By Stephen Oladele
Kogi State Goverment has been asked to discontinue with its decision to evacuate public water assets it has taken to have degenerated as scrapsÂ
Two civil organisations, Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA) and Africa Transparency Initiave (ATI) which made the demand alleged that the government had not yet taken appropriate steps to determine if the assets are no longer valuable to the people they serve before regarding them as scraps
The two organisations in a joint statement signed by Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye, Executive Director of the CODWA and Shina Loremikan, Country Director (NIgeria) of the ATI said government should be diligent and transparent in the handling of the matter to ensure it does not encourage shady deals while depriving the affected communities access to potable water.
The organisations noted that with official letter Ref: MWR/KGS/ADM/71/VOLI/551 dated 21st September 2026 from Kogi State Ministry of Water Resources, signed by Permanent Secretary Alhassan Omakoji, FCNA, the government authorized Gabdire International Nigeria Ltd to evacuate public water assets as verified scrap metals and decommissioned assets:
They also noted that the affected areas are Isanlu zone in Yagba East Local Goverment Area of Kogi West Senatorial District and Ankpa zone in Ankpa Local Goverment Area of Kogi East Senatorial District
The organisations further noted that based on the letter and attached schedule, nine public water works are marked for evacuation with eight of then located in Isanlu zone and the remaining ng one in Ankpa
They listed the affected assets as ISANLU ZONE – Yagba East LGA, Kogi West:
1. Isanlu Pumping Station – Isanlu – Mikano Generator 350kVA, Tower Tanks x2, Electric Panels x3, Pumps x3, Reservoir
2. Booster Station Ajowa – Ajowa – Overhead Reservoir Tank
3. Booster Station Police Station – Isanlu – Overhead Tank
4. Ohun Ife-Olukotun Pumping Station – Ife-Olukotun – Vertical Pump and Motor
5. Booster Station Hospital – Isanlu – Electrical Panels, Iron Tent
6. Booster Station Jolugba – Jolugba – Reservoir Overhead Tank
7. Egbe Pumping Station – Egbe – Iron Tent, Metal Net Fence
8. Odo-Ere Pumping Station – Odo-Ere – Lister Generator
ANKPA ZONE – Ankpa LGA, Kogi East:
9. Akwu Water Works – Akwu – Generator Set 100KVA, Overhead Tank
And also: Change Over, Lowlift Pump, Diesel Tank, Metal Net Fences.
The organisations alleged that the decommissioning of the assets as the government was handling it was not decommissioning but “organized looting by declaration.”
They said that this is because there was allegedly no public hearing, independent audit, and valuation published before the decommissioning.
“No community consent. You just declare public wealth dead and sell it as iron,” they further alleged.
They said that a 350kVA Mikano powers hospitals and that tower tanks save lives and argued: “You do not scrap them in the 21st century when Kogi has no water.”
The organisations while also arguing that when water is scrapped, health is scrapped said: “No water means cholera, typhoid, kidney disease. Women trek miles. Children miss school. Hospitals cannot function. There is no Universal Health Coverage without water.”
“This violates Right to Water (UN Resolution 64/292) and SDG 6,” they added.
The organisations while calling for immediate stoppage of all evacuation in Isanlu and Ankpa zones demanded full disclosure of due diligence report, verification committee, valuation and amount paid by Gabdire.
They asked for Independent technical audit by COREN engineers, civil society and traditional councils.
The organisations said instead of dsiposal of assets renovation and reactivation plan should be embarked upon for Isanlu, Egbe, Odo-Ere, Ife-Olukotun, Ajowa, Jolugba and Akwu water works.
They insisted that: “No public water asset shall be declared scrap without public hearing.”
