The single sharpest fact in one or two punchy sentences is that damage to water distribution pipelines during road construction projects has caused persistent disruptions to pipe-borne water supply in parts of Abeokuta. The Ogun State Water Corporation (OGSWC) has attributed these disruptions to the extensive road construction and urban renewal works carried out by the previous administration.

This clarification comes in response to a recent BusinessDay report titled "Despite N13bn Investments, Pipe-Borne Water Still Luxury in Ogun Capital." The report claimed that the AFD-funded Ogun Urban Water Supply Project had failed to achieve its objectives. However, the Corporation maintains that the project was fully completed and has delivered measurable improvements in water production, transmission, distribution, metering, and institutional capacity.

The Ogun Urban Water Supply Project was implemented between March 2015 and December 2023 at a cost of $33.75 million. The project upgraded the state's water infrastructure, rehabilitated and expanded the Abeokuta Water Treatment Plant, constructed a 14.5-million-litre ground reservoir at Oke-Temidire, installed transmission pipelines, expanded the distribution network, and procured 6000 water meters.

The project increased the treatment capacity of the Abeokuta Water Scheme from 25 million litres per day to 82MLD as part of a phased expansion towards an ultimate capacity of 162MLD. It also delivered more than 250 kilometres of distribution pipelines and over 5000 new customer connections across major parts of the state capital. Rehabilitation of the barrage gates improved water supply reliability by 85 per cent, significantly reduced leakages, and enhanced operational efficiency.

The Corporation serves over 13000 customers across Ogun State, with over 7000 of them connected through the AFD-funded network in Abeokuta. Functional public water schemes are also operating in Ago-Iwoye, Sagamu, and Ilaro. However, supply challenges persist in parts of Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South due to the damage to water distribution pipelines during the road construction projects.

Since January 2025, the Corporation has repaired over 800 pipeline leaks and bursts, installed over 1200 additional water meters, provided more than 3600 new customer connections, revived dormant water schemes in several communities, and introduced a WhatsApp-based customer complaint resolution platform. These interventions have improved water quality compliance, reduced illegal connections, and increased customer satisfaction across the state's water supply system.

The Corporation has clarified that the N450 million appropriated in the 2024 Federal Ministry of Water Resources budget for the desilting of the Arakanga Water Reservoir is a separate Federal Government intervention and has no connection with the AFD-funded Ogun Urban Water Supply Project. The funds are yet to be released, and the desilting project has not commenced. The Corporation assures residents that it will continue to engage the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority to facilitate its implementation.

Key Facts

  • The Ogun Urban Water Supply Project was implemented at a cost of $33.75 million between March 2015 and December 2023.
  • The project increased the treatment capacity of the Abeokuta Water Scheme from 25 million litres per day to 82MLD.
  • Over 250 kilometres of distribution pipelines and over 5000 new customer connections were delivered across the state capital.
  • The Corporation serves over 13000 customers across Ogun State, with over 7000 of them connected through the AFD-funded network in Abeokuta.

"The Ogun Urban Water Supply Project remains the only AFD-supported water infrastructure project undertaken in the state."

  • Hon. Damilola Otubanjo, Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs and Water Resources

The Corporation's commitment to expanding access to potable water across the state is evident in its ongoing efforts to reconnect affected communities and implement new water infrastructure projects. Despite the current supply challenges, the Corporation remains focused on delivering reliable and sustainable water services to the people of Ogun State.