Ogun State Water Corporation, OGSWC, has commenced the retrieval of dormant prepaid water meters across the state to protect government assets and boost revenue generation.
The exercise, which kicked off on Thursday along Olorunsogo Road in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, targeted meters that had stopped vending.
Speaking during the operation, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals and Water Resources, Damilola Otubanjo, said the move became necessary following the low utilisation of meters distributed free of charge to residents by the state government.
Otubanjo, who was represented by the Head of Project Implementation, Mr Dosumu Adekunle, disclosed that the government had distributed over 8,000 prepaid meters to promote access to potable water, but very few customers vended regularly.
She warned that the poor vending culture was affecting the Corporation’s revenue and its capacity to maintain, rehabilitate and expand water infrastructure across the state.
“The state government has invested significantly in providing these meters to residents free of charge to promote access to potable water.
“However, we observed that few customers are currently vending regularly. When customers do not vend, the Corporation loses revenue that could have been channelled into maintaining and improving the water supply system,” she said.
Otubanjo added that prolonged non-use could damage the meters, which are fitted with internal batteries that require regular vending to remain operational. She urged beneficiaries to vend at least once every month to keep the meters functional.
Ogun water corporation moves to recover dormant meters, strengthen water revenue