Lagos State has trained Field Officers in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to assist in data collection on the state’s water facilities.
Tunji Bello, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, said the measure was part of an effort to guarantee that people had access to safe drinking water.
According to him, the government also needs enough data to assist the development of water resource policies.
‘Water supply is undoubtedly insufficient, and effective policy can only be developed via baseline research and data collection,’ he added.
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Bello, who was represented by Mahmood Adegbite, Director of Drainage Enforcement and Compliance, said 100 enumerators will be trained to cover the state’s 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.
He also urged people to support and embrace the enumerators, saying that the survey’s goal is to guarantee that everyone has access to safe and clean water in the future.
“It’s a 10-day baseline study of water supply and sanitation facilities in private and governmental institutions in Lagos State, except private dwellings,” he said.
“However, The purpose of the survey is to identify the state of water and sanitation facilities at all of these institutions, which will eventually serve as the foundation for sector investment.”
“The purpose of this conference is to educate the enumerators on water resource baseline research. We also need appropriate data to enable policy formulation for the state’s water resources…”
Mrs. Omolanke Taiwo, the ministry’s Director of Water Resources, emphasized that water is life and should be provided and accessible to all residents.
She noted that the federal government has initiated a campaign to eliminate open defecation by 2025, and that a baseline study would provide an accurate picture of the water scheme’s state and operation, as well as a report that would help the government prepare.