Abayomi Susan
Nestlé Nigeria Plc has commissioned eight climate-smart boreholes and water treatment plants in communities within the Agbara catchment of Ogun State as part of efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and promote sustainable water management.
The commissioning marks a significant milestone in the company’s Water Regeneration Project, which covers communities in the Agbara catchment in Ogun State and the Abaji catchment in the Federal Capital Territory.
The wider initiative comprises 24 climate-smart boreholes, with eight located in Agbara and 16 planned for Abaji, alongside measures to improve water quality, conservation and community management.
The project is built around four key pillars: water access, water quality, water conservation and water governance.
Under the water quality component, treatment facilities, routine monitoring and water safety guidance are designed to help protect public health. The initiative also incorporates the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and practical education to promote responsible water use.
Water conservation efforts include rainwater harvesting systems, while water governance is supported through community water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) committees and governance training.
These committees are expected to help communities oversee the safe operation and maintenance of the facilities, report faults promptly and ensure regular water quality checks.
Speaking at the commissioning, Olutayo Olatunji, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages at Nestlé Nigeria Plc, said the project reflected the company’s commitment to regenerating local water cycles and strengthening community access to safe water.
He said combining water infrastructure with community governance and performance monitoring would help improve access, strengthen watershed resilience and create lasting value for residents.
Olatunji added that the company remained focused on completing the outstanding components of the project while ensuring measurable benefits for communities and supporting business continuity.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, emphasised that the success of water projects depended not only on commissioning facilities but also on ensuring their continued operation and sustainability.
He welcomed the initiative’s emphasis on governance and water stewardship, particularly the development of a governance training manual to guide water regeneration and responsible management.
Similarly, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, described the project as an example of what collaboration between the public and private sectors could achieve.
He said the partnership with regulators, local authorities and host communities supported sustainable and equitable access to safe drinking water, while advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.
Welcoming the initiative on behalf of the host community, the Alagbara of Agbara Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, Olute III, expressed appreciation for the facilities.
He noted that access to safe water was essential to the health of children, the dignity of households and the well-being of families.
The monarch urged traditional leaders, WASH committees and residents to take responsibility for protecting the facilities, preventing misuse and reporting faults quickly to ensure their continued operation for future generations.
Meanwhile, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria Plc, highlighted the importance of combining infrastructure with public education on water safety.
She said the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and the National Water Quality Handbook, developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and OPS-WASH, were intended to extend water safety knowledge to homes, schools, communities and institutions.
According to Uwadoka, improving access to water must go hand in hand with ensuring its safety and equipping communities with the knowledge to manage water resources responsibly.
The commissioning involved collaboration among public authorities, regulators, traditional institutions, community leaders, WASH committees, OPS-WASH and other technical partners.
Nestlé Nigeria said work would continue on the Abaji component of the project, with a focus on completing the remaining facilities, validating outcomes and strengthening local ownership.
Through the initiative, the company aims to support sustainable access to safe water, strengthen watershed resilience and promote responsible water management in the communities where it operates.
