In the beginning, there were dry taps everywhere including Iwaya and Onike; the old suburbs of the Lagos metropolis, which are just a nudging distance from Yaba, the central business district of the Mainland. These areas have for long been hooked to the network of the Lagos State Water Corporation, which supplies water from Iju Water Works to different parts of the state.
But for various factors, among which is the notorious official red tape, inefficiency, lack of funds, poor management, the sight of gushing water from the public taps and within homes in these neighborhoods became a rarity! In the face of this acute water scarcity, a line in the Ballard of the Old Ancient Mariner – “Water, water everywhere, yet not a drop to drink” becomes a common dirge among residents of the communities, which border the swampy shores of the Lagos lagoon. Although a fairly high-density area, demand for accommodation began to drop as the dire situation scared prospective tenants away and forced others already living there to relocate. But a remedy was on the way If it ever comes, it is in fitful drops, and on occasions when the corporation takes pity on the populace, which has suffered for so long.
Olukoya/MFM to the Rescue
But the groans of the landlords and the people turned into joy some years back when the MFM, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program provided a set of boreholes to alleviate the sufferings of residents where its headquarters was located. The General Overseer, Dr. Olukoya, took immediate steps to restore water sanity. He ordered a survey of the needs of the communities and approved the drilling of the boreholes across a nexus of streets surrounding the church premises. Among those that benefitted from the gesture are Chi Quality Cool Spot, opposite First Bank, Andoyi, Akintunde, and Johnson streets.
Although the water point installations also serve the needs of the church members, especially during special programs, they have become primary sources of water on which residents, families as well as those who ply their trades in the nearby popular Onike market depend. A member of the committee involved in the installation of the borehole project at “When they have a program, a lot of people come to fetch water here. Since it is close to the market, you will see market women, young boys, and girls in the evening queuing to fetch water here. The church has helped the people with the provision of water which was one of the problems we had before,”- Timi Emokenighan, security guard, INITS Computer Office.
TESTIMONIALS
“When they have a program, a lot of people come to fetch water here. Since it is close to the market, you will see market women, young boys, and girls in the evening queuing to fetch water here. The church has helped the people with the provision of water which was one of the problems we had before,”- Timi Emokenighan, security guard, INITS Computer Office.
A member of the committee involved in the installation of the borehole project at 14, Akintunde Street, probably captures the grateful feeling of the residents at the ending of their hitherto harrowing experience.
“We have had persistent water problem here. In fact, there are times we do not get water from the Water Corporation for three months. The General Overseer (Dr. D.K. Olukoya) sent his representatives to come and find out what our immediate needs are. We told him, water was a source of constant headache for us and he immediately gave us this borehole. We have been enjoying it ever since” – Lekan Fasinro, plumber
“Dr. D.K. Olukoya has tried his best for us here. If you ask anyone around here, they would tell you that water is scarce in the entire Onike/Iwaya area. Since Dr. D.K. Olukoya gave us water, things have changed. People come from as far as the UNILAG area to fetch water here. We also maintain the equipment by ourselves” – Ade, tailor custodian of the borehole project sited on Johnson Street
“In fact, it is as if Baba (Dr. D.K. Olukoya) had me in his mind when he told his people to give us borehole water here. Look at the proximity of the project to my shop. God blessed us with that man” – Mrs. Adebimpe Olasunkanmi, Trader The water facilities have been attracting people from far and wide. Though many are abusing the privilege it is free, but it is one the best things to happen to us here” – Mrs. Olasunkanmi, Resident
“You can see that this area is a very busy place. The borehole serves almost everyone here. You can come here in the evening and see things for yourself. However, measures are being taken to control the influx of people coming from other areas to spoil the protection. There is a particular time in the evening when the tap is opened to every resident of this area. Everybody takes full advantage of the General Overseer’s largesse. We cannot thank him enough” – Chinecheremu, Hotelier
Other areas where Dr. Olukoya’s water revolution is making waves include RANSOME KUTI, COMPUTER CENTRE, FAGUNWA HALL MOREMI HALL, and SPORTS CENTRE, all in the University of Lagos. Other locations are OGIJO, SHAGAMU, IKORODU, and MOWE.
