Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has criticised the Lagos State Government for making light of a serious public health concern — unsafe drinking water — instead of addressing the root problem.

The backlash follows a controversial statement by Mahmood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, who admitted that many residents of Lekki Peninsula might be consuming contaminated borehole water, bluntly calling it “shit water.”

While the remark drew attention for its shocking choice of words, CAPPA argues that the real issue is the long-standing failure of the Lagos State Government to provide safe, reliable public water. The group stressed that residents rely on boreholes and wells not out of preference, but because the state has failed to meet its constitutional duty to supply clean water.

“The government is mocking a crisis it created,” CAPPA stated. The organisation’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, explained that faecal contamination, untreated sewage, and poor wastewater management have been a reality in Lagos for years — a situation worsened by repeated failed attempts to privatise water services.

“You cannot neglect your responsibility for decades and then shame people for doing what they must to survive,” Oluwafemi said. “The question we should be asking is: What concrete steps is the Lagos State Government taking to make sure citizens no longer drink contaminated water?”

CAPPA called for urgent public investment in water infrastructure, an end to market-driven water reforms, and the adoption of a transparent, community-led management system. It also urged the government to launch an emergency action plan for underserved communities, repair broken wastewater systems, and adopt climate-resilient measures to protect water resources.