African women under the auspices of African Women Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Network, AWWASHNET, have demanded an end to every plan of water privatization in Lagos and Africa as a whole.
The women made their demands during a walk to the office of the Lagos State Governor to submit a petition, as part of activities to mark the Week of Action Against Water Privatization in Africa.
While presenting the petition to government representatives after the walk, Aderonke Ige, Associate Director at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, explained that the women are simply saying no to water privatization.
She said, “water has no enemy, but if we’re not careful, government actors will turn water into our enemies through Privatization.”
Ige tasked government at all levels to see water as human rights and take necessary efforts to ensure that public water sector works effectively.
She also mentioned that, “when other countries are incorporating water into their law as human rights but Nigeria is talking about water privatization.”
Ige thereafter noted that it is important that African Governments “reject all forms of corporate control of water and privatization of water services, including through so-called public-private partnerships “
Veronica Nwanya, coordinator, AWWASHNET, corroborated that, “African women have come against Privatization of water because we bear the brunt in providing water for the households use.”
Sharing examples of failed attempts to privatize waste management and electricity, Nwanya noted that PPP has failed in the past and it would not serve any good in the water sector.
On her part, Comrade Funmilayo Jolaade Ajayi, a member of AWWASHNET said, “as Women, we are out to say no to water privatization, because we’re at the forefront when it comes to providing water.
“We’ve seen several examples of water privatization that never worked, it is a scam and it should be rejected.”
Ajayi also talked about the importance of water in the fight against COVID-19, stressing that, “if water is privatized, it will affect the fight against the pandemic.”
She expressed her hopes that the Lagos State Government will listen to the demands of the women and halt every plan to privatize water.
Also lending her voice to the demand, Vickie Urema, a member of AWWASHNET, mentioned that, “we’ve started overtime to make our demands known to the government and we’re resolute, this is why we’re asking the government not to privatize water.”
Urema, who said that it is the duty of the government to make water available to the people, also stressed that “We are not demanding for free water, we are only saying that water should not be prioritized.”
Receiving the petition on behalf of the Governor, Mr Hundeyin Kolawole, Director of Political Affairs, Office of Civic Engagement at the Office of the Governor, said he understands the demands of the women because water is a gree gift of nature and should be available to all.
He assured that the petition would be delivered to the governor and adequate action would be taken.
The Africa Week of Action, which runs from October 11-15, is being carried out by Civil Society and Labour Activists across Africa, to resist water privatization in the continent.