Ogun State Water Corporation (OGSWC) has commenced the retrieval of unused prepaid water meters across the state over concerns that low usage is undermining revenue generation and threatening the sustainability of public water infrastructure.
The exercise began along Olorunsogo Road in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, where officials are identifying and recovering meters that have stopped vending.
Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Water Resources, Damilola Otubanjo, said the initiative followed concerns over the poor utilisation of prepaid meters distributed to residents free of charge by the state government.
Otubanjo, who spoke through the Corporation’s Head of Project Implementation, Dosumu Adekunle, disclosed that the government had distributed more than 8,000 prepaid water meters to residents to improve access to potable water.
However, she said the low level of vending among beneficiaries was affecting the corporation’s revenue and its capacity to maintain and expand water infrastructure across Ogun State.
According to her, revenue generated through water vending is essential to funding maintenance, repairs, rehabilitation and expansion of water facilities.
“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.
Ogun urges residents to vend monthly
Otubanjo also warned that leaving prepaid meters unused for extended periods could compromise their functionality and eventually render them unusable.
She explained that the meters contain internal batteries whose operational condition could be affected by prolonged inactivity.
According to her, regular use of the metering system is necessary to keep the facilities functional and prevent the government from incurring additional expenses on replacement meters.
The Special Adviser urged residents who benefited from the free meter distribution programme to vend at least once every month.
She said regular vending would help preserve the meters, support the Corporation’s revenue generation and sustain investments in water supply infrastructure across the state.
OGSWC’s retrieval exercise is aimed at ensuring that government-provided metering facilities are effectively utilised rather than left idle, while supporting the continued delivery of potable water to residents.
The Corporation is responsible for water production, treatment and distribution across Ogun State.
