Pure water operators accuse LSWRC of exploitation
Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) in Lagos has accused the Executive Secretary of Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC), Arch. Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi, of exploiting their members, saying that the clamping down on their members is uncalled for which has led to the increase and scarcity of the product.
“We started producing pure water 22 years ago, but due to working under harsh climate, the price of a sachet of pure water became N10 late last year. Because of the harsh attitude of Abdullahi against us, some of our members have shut down business”, the group said.
A reliable source revealed that the Executive Secretary imposed the payment of N5, 000 on each member, the source further disclosed that Abdullahi began to close down the factories of its members while they are still negotiating the payment of the money to the commission.
According to the source, two pure water factories were closed down during the negotiation. The two factories are Shower Pure Water Factory in Somolu Local Government and Mavis Pure Water Factory in Surulere Local government.
The group alleged that what they found strange was that the money was to be paid into a private account and not a government account.
It was gathered that the company which the ES directed the water operators to be paying into belongs to a family company named “EXPANSE RESOURCES CONSULTING LIMITED” with private account at Ecobank or Zenith Bank.
It was gathered that the company is owned by one Oladele Oluremi and Oladele Rasheedat of 3, Irepodun Street, Alimosho Local government area.
Reacting to the allegation, Mr Ahmed Abdullahi, debunked the allegation, describing it as untrue and the handwork of those that wants the activities of the commission to fail.
Abdullahi explained that the commission has it as responsibility to regulate the business activities of the water operators in the state, stressing that the commission operates according to the law that created it.
He added that the Lagos Water Sector Law provides that water service operators should be licensed, stressing that it was based on the law that the commission is operating.
The Executive Secretary stressed that some of the water service operators are complying with the directive of the government and they are operating freely without disturbance thereby making profit.
He informed that those failed to comply with directive were charged to court so as to ensure they operate based on laid down directive.
Also reacting, the Lagos state Government through its Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde in a statement urged the association not to make any payments into a private account but the official account.
“Consequently, it has become imperative for LASG to clarify that it has not appointed any Consultant to collect revenues on its behalf. Therefore, all water abstraction related revenues should be paid by individual water service providers into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the following relevant codes: Ministry/Agency Code: 4360013; Licensing Fee: 4030022; Permits: 4030023; Regulatory Charges: 4020173 (5% Water Consumption Surcharge), he said.
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