The drive to improve access to safe water, healthcare and livelihood opportunities in Lagos State’s underserved riverine communities has received a boost, with the Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative commencing five solar-powered borehole projects while extending medical and humanitarian assistance to residents of Badagry.
The water projects, being implemented in partnership with Uriel Construction Limited and sponsored by the Koh Pbat Campaign Team, cover selected communities in Badagry, Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo and Epe Local Government Areas.
The infrastructure intervention complements a multi-sectoral medical and humanitarian outreach held at Ebute Ajagun, Iworo, Badagry, which brought free healthcare services, food palliatives, fish-smoking kilns and life jackets to residents of riverine communities.
The combined interventions reflect Blue Lagos’ commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, with a focus on addressing challenges associated with inadequate access to essential services, limited economic opportunities and waterway safety.
Medical, Humanitarian Outreach Reaches Badagry Communities
The outreach at Ebute Ajagun, Iworo, brought essential services and relief materials closer to residents of Daddy Louis, Ajido, Etesa, Epe and Ebute Eleja, where geographical and infrastructural constraints often limit access to basic amenities.
The programme featured free medical services sponsored by the Medical and Safety Directorate of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), while the organisation’s Humanitarian Affairs Directorate donated food palliatives for distribution to beneficiaries.
Fish-smoking kilns were donated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, to support local livelihoods and strengthen the economic activities of beneficiaries.
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), under the leadership of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, also donated life jackets to promote safety among residents who depend on waterways for transportation, fishing and other daily activities.
Beyond providing immediate relief, the intervention seeks to address interconnected community needs by improving access to healthcare, supporting household welfare, creating opportunities for livelihood development and promoting safer use of Lagos waterways.
Adesanya Reaffirms Commitment to Underserved Communities
Speaking on the interventions, Team Lead of Blue Lagos, Mr. Saheed Adesanya, reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to ensuring that residents of underserved coastal and riverine communities are not excluded from development opportunities because of their geographical locations.
He explained that the Badagry outreach builds on previous interventions undertaken in Sagbonkodji, Bishop Kodji, Takwa Bay and Ilado-Odo in Amuwo-Odofin, as well as Yegunda, Ito Omu, Isan, Oko-Abe, Ito Osun, Saga, Emina and Take Nla in Epe, among other locations.
According to Adesanya, Blue Lagos adopts a community-centred approach that combines immediate humanitarian assistance with practical interventions designed to improve public health, strengthen livelihoods, enhance waterway safety and promote sustainable development.
The approach recognises that lasting community development requires more than temporary relief, making investments in essential infrastructure and economic empowerment critical to improving living conditions in riverine settlements.
Five Solar-Powered Boreholes Target Four LGAs
In a complementary intervention, Blue Lagos and Uriel Construction Limited have commenced the construction of five solar-powered boreholes to address water-access challenges in selected riverine communities across four local government areas of Lagos State.
The Koh Pbat Campaign Team is sponsoring all five projects through Uriel Construction Limited.
The beneficiary communities are:
Seje Jegba, Badagry Local Government Area.
Sagbonkodji, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area.
Olomometa, Ojo Local Government Area.
Agadangba, Ward C1, Epe Local Government Area.
Igbo Apawa, Ward D1, Epe Local Government Area.
When completed, the projects are expected to provide more reliable access to water for domestic use, reduce the burden on residents who struggle to obtain safe water and contribute to improved sanitation, hygiene and public health.
The adoption of solar-powered systems is intended to support sustainable water provision by reducing dependence on conventional electricity sources. This is particularly significant for riverine communities where infrastructure limitations can undermine the availability and reliability of essential services.
Access to safe water remains fundamental to community well-being, with far-reaching implications for health, household productivity, education and living standards.
By investing in these projects, Blue Lagos and its partners are extending their interventions beyond immediate humanitarian relief to include infrastructure designed to deliver lasting benefits to beneficiary communities.
Strategic Partnerships Drive Community Development
Blue Lagos expressed appreciation to its Patron, Emmanuel, Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, for his support and strategic engagement in advancing the initiative’s community development objectives.
The initiative also acknowledged LASWA’s contribution of life jackets to improve the safety of residents who depend on Lagos waterways for their livelihoods and daily transportation.
Finnih was recognised for sponsoring the medical outreach and donating fish-smoking kilns to support local economic activities.
Blue Lagos also commended the Humanitarian Affairs Directorate of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, under the leadership of Ms Bisola Olusanya, for providing food palliatives distributed during the Badagry outreach and other community interventions.
Special recognition was extended to the Koh Pbat Campaign Team for sponsoring the five solar-powered borehole projects through Uriel Construction Limited, describing the intervention as a significant contribution towards improving access to essential water infrastructure in underserved riverine communities.
The initiative noted that collaboration among government agencies, corporate organisations, humanitarian bodies, development partners and community stakeholders remains essential to delivering interventions that address the needs of underserved populations.
Call for Sustained Collaboration
Blue Lagos called for sustained partnerships among government institutions, corporate organisations, development partners, community leaders and other stakeholders to expand access to healthcare, safe water, livelihood opportunities and waterway safety interventions across Lagos State.
As the initiative continues to extend its reach across Badagry, Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo, Epe and other riverine areas, it reiterated its commitment to inclusive development that responds to the practical needs of communities often constrained by geographical isolation and inadequate infrastructure.
Its guiding principle remains clear: No Community Is Left Behind.