by Kingseyi Thu Jul 19, 2018 11:14 pmThe Our Water, Our Right Coalition has
commended the 23 members of the
Congressional Black Caucus, CBC, and
Congressional Progressive Caucus, CPC, who
wrote a solidarity letter siding with Lagos
citizens in their struggle against water
privatisation.
Reacting to a solidarity letter from some
members of both caucuses, Our Water, Our
Right Coalition said they have shown their
commitment to pro-people causes through the
letter. There was a similar letter of support from
half of the CBC members in 2015.
In a statement in Lagos, ERA/FoEN Deputy
Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said:
“Privatisation is not the answer for Lagos just
like it is not the answer for Pittsburgh and cities
across the US. We call on the Lagos State
government to end its anti-democratic pursuit of
privatisation and invest in public solutions.”
In the statement signed by Mr. Philip Jakpor,
Head of ERA/FoEN Media & Campaigns,
Oluwafemi thanked leaders in the U.S. for their
continued support, adding that “we must band
together to oppose this corporate grab of our
water from Lagos State to Pennsylvania.”
Also, expressing support for the Lagos
campaign, Shayda Naficy, Senior Programme
Director at Corporate Accountability, said:
“Around the globe, the human right to water is
under threat and people of colour, low income
communities and people in the Global South
bear the brunt and are having to defend their
rights in the face of disproportionate impacts.
“Whether it is at the World Bank or Michigan
Legislature, this fundamental right must be
upheld. The best way to do that is to keep water
systems democratically accountable and in
public hands.”
The renewed support from the CBC and CPC
members comes just one week after a
delegation of Nigerian legislators led by Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, met with members
of CBC.
The Our Water Our Right Coalition have alerted
that the new privatisation plans could involve
foreign companies, all with global records of
human rights abuses, that have been implicated
in the Flint and Pittsburgh water crisis in the US.
Recall that in May 11 World Bank Executive
Directors visited Lagos and met the state
government’s officials, who called for the Bank’s
support on water projects.
Later same month, evidence emerged that
despite years of opposition from people, unions
and environmental groups, the state government
was moving ahead with at least five water
privatisation projects that could privatise nearly
60 percent of Lagos water system.
The CBC and CPC letter of solidarity draws from
three US examples—Detroit, Flint and Pittsburgh
— where the prioritisation of system finances
over access has led to major issues such as
raised rates, shut off of water access for tens of
thousands, dangerous lead crises and even drew
the concern of the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the human right to water.
The letter read in part: “While we cannot all be
experts on the distinct water access challenges
facing each of the world’s cities, we share your
concerns that a move towards privatisation of
the water system in Lagos, including through
public-private partnerships, could leave the city
vulnerable to the negative impacts historically
associated with various forms of water
privatisation, including rate hikes, unaffordable
service, inequitable access, worker layoffs,
service interruptions, and failures to adequately
invest in infrastructure.
“Privatisation also introduces significant
governance challenges that can erode
democratic control and oversight, including the
government’s ability to regulate in the public
interest.”
commended the 23 members of the
Congressional Black Caucus, CBC, and
Congressional Progressive Caucus, CPC, who
wrote a solidarity letter siding with Lagos
citizens in their struggle against water
privatisation.
Reacting to a solidarity letter from some
members of both caucuses, Our Water, Our
Right Coalition said they have shown their
commitment to pro-people causes through the
letter. There was a similar letter of support from
half of the CBC members in 2015.
In a statement in Lagos, ERA/FoEN Deputy
Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said:
“Privatisation is not the answer for Lagos just
like it is not the answer for Pittsburgh and cities
across the US. We call on the Lagos State
government to end its anti-democratic pursuit of
privatisation and invest in public solutions.”
In the statement signed by Mr. Philip Jakpor,
Head of ERA/FoEN Media & Campaigns,
Oluwafemi thanked leaders in the U.S. for their
continued support, adding that “we must band
together to oppose this corporate grab of our
water from Lagos State to Pennsylvania.”
Also, expressing support for the Lagos
campaign, Shayda Naficy, Senior Programme
Director at Corporate Accountability, said:
“Around the globe, the human right to water is
under threat and people of colour, low income
communities and people in the Global South
bear the brunt and are having to defend their
rights in the face of disproportionate impacts.
“Whether it is at the World Bank or Michigan
Legislature, this fundamental right must be
upheld. The best way to do that is to keep water
systems democratically accountable and in
public hands.”
The renewed support from the CBC and CPC
members comes just one week after a
delegation of Nigerian legislators led by Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, met with members
of CBC.
The Our Water Our Right Coalition have alerted
that the new privatisation plans could involve
foreign companies, all with global records of
human rights abuses, that have been implicated
in the Flint and Pittsburgh water crisis in the US.
Recall that in May 11 World Bank Executive
Directors visited Lagos and met the state
government’s officials, who called for the Bank’s
support on water projects.
Later same month, evidence emerged that
despite years of opposition from people, unions
and environmental groups, the state government
was moving ahead with at least five water
privatisation projects that could privatise nearly
60 percent of Lagos water system.
The CBC and CPC letter of solidarity draws from
three US examples—Detroit, Flint and Pittsburgh
— where the prioritisation of system finances
over access has led to major issues such as
raised rates, shut off of water access for tens of
thousands, dangerous lead crises and even drew
the concern of the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the human right to water.
The letter read in part: “While we cannot all be
experts on the distinct water access challenges
facing each of the world’s cities, we share your
concerns that a move towards privatisation of
the water system in Lagos, including through
public-private partnerships, could leave the city
vulnerable to the negative impacts historically
associated with various forms of water
privatisation, including rate hikes, unaffordable
service, inequitable access, worker layoffs,
service interruptions, and failures to adequately
invest in infrastructure.
“Privatisation also introduces significant
governance challenges that can erode
democratic control and oversight, including the
government’s ability to regulate in the public
interest.”
