By Michael Omotosho |
The Our Water, Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC) has called on African governments to end water privatisation and increase public investment in water infrastructure, warning that years of underfunding, weak public utilities and growing commercial involvement have left millions of people without reliable access to safe and affordable water.
The coalition made the demand at a press conference on Monday, October 12, 2026, in Ogba, Lagos, to mark the Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatisation, holding from October 12 to 18 under the theme, “Reclaiming Africa’s Water Future: Public Water for All.”
The event, moderated by Robert Egbe, Media and Communications Officer at the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), brought together civil society organisations, labour unions, water rights advocates and campaigners from several African countries.
Participants called for stronger public water institutions, transparent water policies and greater community participation in decisions affecting access to water. They also raised concerns about rising water costs, prepaid metering, outsourcing and the growing role of private companies in water delivery.
The mobilisation coincides with the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which the coalition said provided an opportunity to question the influence of international financial institutions on public policy and water governance across Africa.
Coalition Highlights Growing Water Access Crisis
Reading the coalition’s press statement, Geoffery Occansey of the Water Citizens Network/Revenue Mobilization Africa, Ghana, said millions of people across Africa continued to face difficulties accessing safe and affordable water.
The statement cited figures showing that 2.1 billion people globally lacked safely managed drinking water in 2024, while 3.4 billion lacked safely managed sanitation. It added that 167 million people in sub-Saharan Africa relied on limited drinking-water services during the same year.
According to OWORAC, low-income households that depend on water vendors may pay 10 to 20 times more per unit of water than households connected to public water networks.
The coalition attributed the situation to years of inadequate public investment, weakened water utilities, rapid urbanisation, population growth and increasing pressure from climate-related challenges.
For households without reliable water connections, the coalition noted, dependence on vendors and other alternative sources can increase the cost of meeting basic needs.
The consequences extend beyond household expenditure, as unreliable water supplies can affect livelihoods, education, sanitation and public health. Women and girls may also bear a disproportionate burden in communities where they are responsible for fetching water.
OWORAC argued that these challenges require governments to strengthen public water systems rather than increasingly rely on private companies to provide essential services.
“Africa’s water future cannot hinge on attracting more private investment. It must be built on functioning public water systems that people can rely on,” Occansey said.
The coalition maintained that governments must demonstrate how their water policies, infrastructure spending and financing arrangements are improving access for underserved communities.
OWORAC Unveils Position Paper on Africa’s Water Future
At the press conference, Holiness Segun Olufemi, Programme Officer for the Water Campaign at CAPPA, unveiled the coalition’s position paper titled: Implementing the Africa Water Vision 2063: An OWORAC Coalition Position on Water Justice, Public Financing and Democratic Water Governance.
The paper outlines recommendations for African governments, including increased public funding for water and sanitation, stronger public utilities, transparent water-related contracts and meaningful participation by communities and workers in water governance.
It also calls for a continental water and sanitation financing benchmark, with measurable commitments to improving infrastructure and access.
The coalition wants governments to publish water-related contracts, disclose expenditure and strengthen accountability mechanisms to ensure that public funds deliver measurable improvements in service delivery.
Other recommendations include protecting water resources, improving water-management systems and ensuring that residents, workers, women and other affected groups participate in decisions about water services.
OWORAC opposes privatisation, commercialisation, concessions, public-private partnerships, management and lease contracts, outsourcing and prepaid water-metering arrangements where these transfer control or delivery of public water services to commercial interests.
Olufemi stressed the importance of protecting water as a human right and public good rather than treating it primarily as a source of corporate profit.
He illustrated the implications of prepaid water metering by recounting the experience of a woman in Aiyetoro, Lagos, who struggled to afford tomatoes after paying for water through the metering system.
The coalition argued that water policies should be assessed by whether they improve affordability, reliability and access, particularly for low-income households.
Activists Question Prepaid Water Meters and Commercialisation
Speakers at the press conference raised concerns about the affordability of prepaid water meters and the wider implications of introducing digital systems into water delivery.
Anne Maina, National Coordinator of the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya, highlighted the costs associated with smart meters, including installation, maintenance and data privacy concerns.
Maina noted that some technologies could cost between $75 and $2,500, raising questions about whether the systems would improve access to water or place additional financial pressure on households and community borehole users.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, criticised metering arrangements that could make access to water dependent on people’s ability to pay.
“We reject totally the metering of water where only the rich can pay,” Oluwafemi said.
He maintained that governments have a responsibility to provide clean and accessible water for domestic use and should prioritise citizens’ needs over corporate interests.
The coalition also expressed concern about the use of commercial tariffs and private financing arrangements where these could make essential water services less affordable.
While private investment may be presented as a way to address infrastructure gaps, OWORAC maintained that such arrangements do not automatically guarantee universal access, affordable prices or accountable service delivery.
The coalition argued that governments should strengthen public utilities, improve infrastructure maintenance and establish effective oversight mechanisms rather than treat privatisation as the default response to inadequate financing.
Coalition Raises Concerns Over Private Water Operators
OWORAC also questioned the accountability of private companies involved in water, sanitation, wastewater treatment and solid-waste management, arguing that weak regulation can expose communities and the environment to risks.
In support of its concerns, the coalition referred to a 2025 Global Witness investigation into a Veolia-managed landfill in Colombia.
According to the coalition’s account, the investigation reported footage that appeared to show untreated leachate being pumped into waterways flowing into protected wetlands. Tests commissioned as part of the investigation reportedly detected elevated mercury levels at one sampling point.
OWORAC also referred to concerns surrounding Veolia’s past operations in Gabon, where the state reportedly alleged that petroleum waste had been found in nearly all pumping stations following years of the company’s operation.
The coalition further criticised Suez’s involvement in Senegal’s urban and peri-urban water systems, raising concerns about financial management, service delivery and the implications for local communities and workers.
These concerns formed part of its broader argument that governments must ensure transparent contracts, independent environmental monitoring and effective regulation whenever private companies are involved in essential public services.
The allegations concerning specific companies and operations require assessment against the underlying investigations, official records and responses from the companies involved. The coalition’s criticism does not, on its own, establish that every private water arrangement produces the same outcomes.
OWORAC maintained, however, that responsibility for protecting the public interest rests with governments, regardless of the financing or management arrangements adopted.
Senegalese Water Workers Oppose Privatisation
Oumar Ba, General Secretary of the Autonomous Union of Water Workers of Senegal, raised concerns about water management arrangements in Senegal, including the involvement of Sen’Eau, and their implications for workers and communities.
Ba discussed labour concerns, including a dismissal in December and ongoing legal proceedings, while highlighting problems with water access, affordability and service quality.
“The population continues to suffer from insufficient access to water in both quantity and quality, facing high water bills and poor service quality,” Ba said.
He reaffirmed the union’s opposition to privatisation, adding: “For our part, we firmly believe that water privatization is not a viable option for our communities.”
Ba emphasised the need to protect access to water as a universal human right and strengthen public responsibility for water services.
His remarks reflected the coalition’s wider concerns about whether commercial water arrangements adequately protect workers’ interests and ensure reliable, affordable services for consumers.
Water Rights Advocates Demand Stronger Public Systems
Joseph Rahall, Executive Director of Green Scenery in Sierra Leone, welcomed participants and emphasised the importance of treating water as a basic right rather than a commodity for corporate profit.
“Water is life. It is a fundamental human right of all of us,” Rahall said.
He supported efforts to reclaim public control of water resources across the continent, highlighting the responsibility of governments to ensure that communities can access essential services.
Neil Gupta, Research and Water Campaign Director at Corporate Accountability, also expressed support for OWORAC’s work.
“The campaign to defend and advance the human right to water is the work of our lifetimes and the Our Water, Our Rights Africa coalition is leading the charge across the continent,” Gupta said.
The coalition argued that stronger public institutions, adequate funding and democratic accountability were necessary to address water shortages and prevent access from becoming increasingly dependent on household income.
Workers Highlight Lagos Water Infrastructure Gaps
Comrade Rufus Olusesan, National President of the Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association, highlighted gaps in public water access in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos State.
Olusesan said less than 10 per cent of Lagos residents have access to public water, pointing to the scale of the infrastructure deficit in the state.
He also discussed challenges facing communities, including Ajegunle and Ikorodu, and argued that greater public investment was needed to expand reliable water services.
His remarks reinforced the coalition’s position that governments should prioritise the development and maintenance of public water infrastructure to improve access for underserved communities.
For Lagos and other rapidly growing urban centres, the coalition’s demands include greater investment in waterworks, reliable distribution systems and transparent management of public infrastructure.
CAPPA Questions Lagos Water Policy
Responding to questions about the impact of the Africa Week of Action, Zikora Ibeh, Assistant Executive Director of CAPPA, discussed previous advocacy against the National Water Resources Bill and the coalition’s continued efforts to raise public awareness about water governance.
Ibeh also raised concerns about reports that Lagos had selected about 23 bidders in connection with plans to outsource mini and micro waterworks, questioning the transparency of the process and its implications for public control of water services.
She called for greater public scrutiny of water policies and encouraged journalists to investigate decisions affecting access to water.
The coalition maintained that decisions concerning water infrastructure and service delivery should be transparent and should include meaningful participation by communities and workers.
It also argued that public access to relevant contracts, budgets and expenditure records would enable residents to assess whether water policies were serving their interests.
Climate Pressures Add to Water Challenges
OWORAC said droughts, floods, pollution and other climate-related disruptions were worsening existing water vulnerabilities across Africa.
These pressures, combined with rapid urbanisation and population growth, are increasing demand for reliable water supplies while placing additional strain on infrastructure and water resources.
The coalition argued that governments should invest in resilient water infrastructure, improve water-resource management and strengthen public utilities to prepare for climate-related risks.
It maintained that water shortages and infrastructure failures should not become justifications for transferring control of essential services to commercial interests.
Instead, governments should develop long-term financing plans, strengthen technical capacity and ensure that vulnerable communities are included in decisions about water access and sanitation.
African Union Water Agenda Puts Pressure on Governments
The coalition’s campaign comes as the African Union has designated 2026 as the Year of “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
The Africa Water Vision 2063 and related policy commitments, alongside the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, provide opportunities for African governments to translate continental commitments into practical improvements, according to the coalition’s position.
OWORAC argued that governments should be assessed not only on their policy announcements but also on the funding allocated to water and sanitation, how public resources are spent and whether communities are experiencing measurable improvements.
It called for transparent budgets, clear targets and regular public reporting to help prevent corruption, waste and poor project delivery.
The coalition’s position paper seeks to address financing, accountability and public participation in implementing the continental water vision.
Its recommendations include guaranteeing universal access to safe and affordable water, committing adequate public funding, rebuilding public water utilities, publishing water-related contracts and expenditure, and ensuring that communities have a meaningful voice in water governance.
Africa Week of Action Continues Until October 18
In her closing remarks, Ibeh said activities marking the Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatisation would take place in different African countries from October 12 to 18, 2026.
The programme includes public engagements, advocacy activities and symposia, including a planned Lagos symposium on water challenges in the state.
Organisations supporting the mobilisation include the Senegalese Water Justice Network; CAPPA and Amaka Nweke Foundation of Nigeria; Water Citizens Network/Revenue Mobilization Africa of Ghana; Green Scenery of Sierra Leone; Voices for Water of Zimbabwe; Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya; and Corporate Accountability International, among others.
The coalition said the activities would continue to highlight concerns about policies that place essential public services under commercial control while advocating stronger public institutions, transparent governance and equitable access to water.
Through the campaign, OWORAC and its partners are pressing African governments to demonstrate how their policies and investments are improving water access, particularly for low-income households and underserved communities.
The coalition maintained that access to safe and affordable water must remain a public responsibility, supported by adequate financing, reliable infrastructure and accountable institutions.
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