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Lagos Water Corporation advances PPP to enhance water supply

Published

1 week ago

May 15, 2026

The Lagos Water Corporation has advanced plans to expand access to potable water across the state through a Public-Private Partnership initiative aimed at strengthening water infrastructure and improving service delivery for more than 20 million residents.

The development was discussed during a Directors’ Meeting held at the corporation’s headquarters in Ijora, where the Executive Management reviewed progress on the competitive bidding and concession process for the rehabilitation, upgrade and operation of major water facilities across the state.

The meeting was chaired by the Managing Director of the corporation, Mukhtaar Temitope Tijani, and attended by transaction advisers, Olu Adebo and Dipo Oguntuga of Integrated Business Solutions. Speaking during the meeting, Engr. Titilola Oridami-Bright disclosed that 23 bids had been received across four project lots following technical and financial evaluations.

According to the corporation the concession arrangement will adopt standardized terms, including a 20-year tenure and a unified five per cent royalty structure designed to ensure transparency and fairness in the process.

LWC said the initiative would focus on rehabilitating existing facilities and expanding water distribution networks to bridge supply gaps, noting that the corporation currently serves only about 35 per cent of households in Lagos at full operational capacity.

The framework is also expected to introduce performance targets, including achieving between 60 and 80 per cent water supply availability in the initial phase, reducing Non-Revenue Water to below 25 per cent within seven to eight years, and increasing daily water supply hours.

To attract investors, the corporation said the PPP model would provide cost-reflective tariffs, periodic reviews, foreign exchange protection mechanisms and performance-based incentives.

LWC added that governance and oversight structures involving the Lagos State Waterways Authority and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources had been incorporated to safeguard public interest and ensure continuity of service delivery.

The corporation stated that negotiations with preferred bidders would commence soon in collaboration with relevant government agencies and regulators.

The Lagos State Government had earlier announced plans to concession seven mini and micro waterworks located in Lekki, Akilo, Victoria Island Annex, Magodo, Abesan, Alexander and Apapa to private investors under the pilot PPP initiative.

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Published

11 seconds ago

May 24, 2026

News Diggers

Thousands of dignitaries from across the world gathered in the Republic of Benin on Sunday, March 24, 2026, to witness the inauguration of President Ramona Wadagni, with prominent Niger Delta monarch, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakar Dokubo-Asari, among the notable guests at the historic ceremony.

Dokubo-Asari, who holds the traditional titles of Da Amakiri Tubo, Dabaye Amakiri I, Amakiri Ekpeke and Amanyanabo of the Source, Elem Kalabari, joined over 6,000 world leaders, diplomats, business executives, royals and traditional rulers at the Palais des Congrès de Cotonou where outgoing President Patrice Talon formally handed over power to Wadagni.

The colourful inauguration ceremony marked a significant political transition in the West African nation and attracted dignitaries from different parts of the globe.

For Dokubo-Asari, however, the visit was said to be more than a diplomatic engagement, as President Wadagni is regarded as a longtime friend of the Kalabari monarch. His attendance was described as a reflection of years of friendship and loyalty between both men.

The monarch is widely known to have maintained strong ties with the Republic of Benin for more than two decades through educational and business investments. He is the proprietor of King Amachree International Children’s School and the defunct King Amachree University. The international school has hosted students from countries including Congo, Togo, Ghana and Nigeria.

Over the years, Dokubo-Asari has also invested in real estate, hospitality and other business ventures in the Republic of Benin, which associates say has become a second home to him.

In line with Kalabari royal tradition, the monarch attended the event alongside a distinguished delegation of chiefs and associates. Among them were Se-Alabo EMI Membere-Otaji, Managing Director of Elscon Group and Deputy National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture; Se-Opu Alabo Dr. David T. Briggs, Deuin-Ala XII of Kalabari and Paramount Chief of the Ancient Deuin-Ala Chieftaincy House; and Prince Tonye T. J. T. Princewill, Da OGO VI, Head of the Queen Elababene/Da OGO Group of Houses of the Kalabari Kingdom.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the inauguration, Dokubo-Asari described the Republic of Benin as a welcoming nation that has shown him friendship and hospitality over the years.

“The Republic of Benin has been a second home to me. I have always enjoyed the hospitality of the great people of this country, and I am here on the invitation of the President to honour him and this great nation,” he said.

The Kalabari monarch is also known for maintaining longstanding relationships with political and business leaders across Africa, including a close friendship spanning over three decades with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ahead of the inauguration, Dokubo-Asari reportedly travelled into the Republic of Benin through the Seme Border where he briefly stopped to exchange pleasantries with the newly appointed Deputy Controller General of Immigration, who later posed for photographs with the monarch and members of his entourage.

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Minister urges entrepreneurs to take advantage of emerging opportunities under AfCTA

Published

40 minutes ago

May 24, 2026

News Diggers

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has urged Nigerian entrepreneurs and startups to take advantage of emerging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as discussions continue at the 2026 Biashara Africa summit.

Biashara Africa 2026, regarded as one of the continent’s leading trade and investment platforms, brought together policymakers, business leaders, financial institutions and trade facilitators to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement and deepen intra-African trade.

Speaking in her capacity as the Incoming Chair of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, Dr. Oduwole challenged African leaders and policymakers to move beyond policy commitments and address the practical barriers hindering trade and investment across the continent.

She also commended Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé, and the Government of Togo for what she described as decisive actions advancing the vision of the AfCFTA and strengthening Africa’s ambition of building an integrated market of more than 1.4 billion people.

As part of efforts to drive implementation of the continental trade pact, the minister announced the launch of the AfCFTA Startup Acceleration Programme 2026, a flagship initiative under the AfCFTA–Korea Africa Foundation partnership.

According to her, the programme is designed to support 30 high-potential African startups seeking to expand beyond the continent and access international markets, particularly South Korea.

Dr. Oduwole explained that the initiative presents significant opportunities for Nigerian startups operating in sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, logistics, agritech, manufacturing and digital platforms to strengthen their operations, scale internationally and position themselves for cross-border growth.

“The future of the AfCFTA will not be built by policy alone. It will be driven by enterprises, innovators, manufacturers, digital platforms and entrepreneurs who are ready to trade,” she said.

The minister, who also serves as Co-Champion of Digital Trade under the AfCFTA, encouraged eligible Nigerian startups to apply for the programme through SME.Support@au-afcfta.org before the application deadline of May 24, 2026.

She further noted that Africa’s economic integration drive had recorded another major milestone with the announcement by the Government of Togo removing visa requirements for African passport holders and investors travelling to the country for short stays.

According to her, the policy signals that Africa is gradually transitioning from regional aspirations to concrete action aimed at promoting trade, investment and movement across borders.

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Educators, policymakers, development partners, others chat way forward at All Northern Schools Conference

Published

59 minutes ago

May 24, 2026

News Diggers

The ancient city of Kano came alive with renewed conversations on the future of education as the All Northern Schools Conference concluded after three days of intensive engagement, strategic discussions and stakeholder collaboration aimed at repositioning schools across Northern Nigeria for innovation, sustainability and impact.

The conference, described by participants as one of the most significant education gatherings in the region in recent years, attracted school owners, educators, policymakers, development partners, innovators, investors and other stakeholders from across Northern Nigeria and beyond.

Organisers said the summit was conceived as a bold intervention to drive transformational change in the education sector and create stronger networks among stakeholders committed to improving learning outcomes in the region.

Throughout the three-day event, speakers and facilitators urged participants to move beyond complaints about the challenges facing education and embrace practical reforms capable of delivering measurable results. Discussions focused on strengthening teacher quality, adopting technology-driven learning models, improving school governance, ensuring sustainability and placing learners at the centre of education reforms.

Participants engaged in sessions covering leadership, safeguarding, institutional culture, school growth, innovation, teacher development, learner transformation and collaboration among schools and government institutions.

A recurring message during the conference was the need for courageous leadership and deliberate action to transform education in Northern Nigeria. Speakers stressed that sustainable progress in the sector would require committed school owners, visionary educators, supportive governments and strategic partnerships capable of addressing long-standing systemic challenges.

The conference also provided a platform for collaboration between public and private education stakeholders, enabling school leaders from different states to exchange ideas, share experiences and explore practical solutions to common challenges facing schools in the region.

Several participants noted that the gathering highlighted the benefits of collaboration among educators, rather than operating in isolation, adding that the conference opened new opportunities for partnerships and institutional growth.

One of the major highlights of the summit was the array of guest speakers and resource persons who delivered presentations during the event. Education experts, transformational leaders and industry professionals shared practical insights and experiences aimed at equipping participants with strategies for building stronger and more sustainable institutions.

Speakers challenged school administrators to rethink the future of learning by creating safer, smarter and more resilient schools, while also encouraging teachers to go beyond classroom instruction and become active agents of learner transformation.

Beyond the academic sessions, delegates participated in networking activities that fostered relationship-building and collaboration among institutions. The organisers noted that the conference also showcased the cultural heritage and hospitality of Kano, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a major centre of commerce, learning and influence in Northern Nigeria.

The event ended with a colourful Gala Night featuring cultural displays, entertainment, awards and recognition for participants and contributors. The evening provided an opportunity for attendees to celebrate shared achievements while strengthening relationships built during the conference.

Speaking at the close of the event, the organisers expressed appreciation to participants, partners, speakers, volunteers and exhibitors for contributing to the success of the conference. They described the gathering as the beginning of a broader movement aimed at creating a stronger network of education leaders committed to transforming schools across Northern Nigeria.

According to the organisers, the conference demonstrated that Northern Nigeria possesses the leadership capacity, institutional readiness and human resources needed to reimagine and rebuild the future of education in the region.

They urged participants to translate the discussions and resolutions from the conference into concrete actions in classrooms, schools, ministries and institutions across the region.

The organisers added that the success of the conference marked a major milestone in ongoing efforts to reposition Northern schools for greater relevance, resilience and improved educational outcomes, while expressing optimism that the momentum generated in Kano would continue to inspire reforms and innovation across the education sector.