Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has urged people to invest in the water sector to create jobs.

The governor, who spoke in Ogba, Lagos, at the 2016 World Water Day, organised by the State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC), with the theme: “Water and Jobs: Water for the People, Water by the People”, said there are job opportunities in the water sector. Ambode, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Babatunde Adejare, said besides engineers, geologists and manufacturers of water equipment, the sector creates jobs for pure (sachet) water producers, bottled water producers, managers, accountants and other professionals.

The Managing Director of Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Adekunle Muminu Badmus, said the corporation employed thousands of Nigerians, adding that it sourced its raw water from rivers and deep boreholes. Badmus said: “About 90 per cent of the municipal water consumed in Lagos comes from River Ogun and is processed at the two major water treatment plants- Iju and Adiyan Waterworks- which are designed to treat 45 and 70 MGD of water.

He enjoined customers to conserve water, report leakages, avoid illegal connections, avoid vandalism of pipes, understand the true cost of water and pay their bills promptly. The Executive Secretary of LSWRC, Ahmed Kabiru, said the World Water Day is celebrated yearly on March 22, to encourage the production of potable water.