Nestlé Nigeria Plc has commissioned eight climate-smart boreholes and water treatment plants in communities within the Agbara catchment area of Ogun State as part of efforts to improve access to safe water and promote sustainable water management.
The facilities are part of the company’s Water Regeneration Project, which covers the Agbara catchment in Ogun State and the Abaji catchment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The wider initiative includes the development of 24 climate-smart boreholes, comprising eight in Agbara and 16 in Abaji, alongside water treatment facilities, rainwater harvesting systems and community-based water management structures.
The project is designed around four key areas: water access, water quality, water conservation and water governance, with the aim of improving the availability of safe water and strengthening community participation in the sustainable management of water resources.
Speaking at the commissioning, Olutayo Olatunji, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, said the project reflected the company’s commitment to regenerating local water cycles and strengthening community resilience.
He said the combination of water infrastructure, local governance and performance monitoring would help improve access to safe water while delivering long-term benefits to host communities and supporting business continuity.
“The Agbara commissioning is an important milestone within our wider Water Regeneration Project and reflects Nestlé’s commitment to helping regenerate local water cycles,” Olatunji said.
He added that the company would maintain its focus on effective project delivery and measurable outcomes as it works towards completing the remaining components of the initiative.
The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, emphasised the need to sustain the facilities beyond their commissioning.
According to him, the long-term success of water infrastructure depends on its ability to provide safe and reliable services consistently.
“Commissioning a facility is only the beginning; ensuring that it continues to provide safe, reliable and sustainable service is the true measure of success,” Utsev said.
He welcomed the project’s emphasis on governance and water stewardship, particularly the development of a governance training manual to guide water regeneration and responsible resource management.
Similarly, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said the initiative demonstrated the benefits of collaboration between the private sector, government institutions, regulators and host communities.
Lawal noted that the project supported Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
He said the initiative also aligned with Nigeria’s environmental priorities by promoting equitable access to safe drinking water and encouraging responsible water management.
Welcoming the development on behalf of the host community, the Alagbara of Agbara Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, described the commissioning as a significant development for residents.
He urged community leaders, traditional rulers, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) committees and residents to take responsibility for protecting and maintaining the facilities.
“Agbara has received more than boreholes; we have received a responsibility,” the monarch said, urging residents to prevent misuse of the facilities and report faults promptly.
He pledged the community’s commitment to sustaining the infrastructure for the benefit of present and future generations.
Meanwhile, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria Plc, said access to water must be accompanied by adequate knowledge of water safety and responsible usage.
She explained that the company’s National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and the National Water Quality Handbook, developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Organisation for Promoting Environmental Sustainability and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), were designed to extend water safety awareness to homes, schools, communities and institutions.
“Access alone is not enough. Water must be safe, it must be protected, and communities must have the knowledge to manage it responsibly,” Uwadoka said.
The project also provides for routine water quality monitoring, preventive maintenance, fault reporting and community oversight through WASH committees.
These structures are intended to strengthen local ownership, clarify responsibilities and ensure the facilities continue to function effectively over time.
Nestlé Nigeria said the commissioning reflected collaboration among government authorities, regulators, traditional institutions, community leaders, WASH committees, OPS-WASH and other technical partners.
The company added that work was continuing on the Abaji components of the project, with a commitment to transparent validation, effective implementation and community ownership as the remaining facilities are completed and handed over.
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