Nestlé Nigeria Plc has commissioned eight climate-smart boreholes and water treatment plants in communities within the Agbara catchment of Ogun State, advancing its water regeneration programme aimed at improving access to safe water and strengthening local water resilience.
The facilities form part of a wider Water Regeneration Project spanning the Agbara catchment in Ogun State and the Abaji catchment in the Federal Capital Territory, linking community water infrastructure with water stewardship, governance and performance monitoring.
Olutayo Olatunji, business executive officer, Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria, described the Agbara commissioning as a milestone in the company’s wider effort to regenerate local water cycles.
“By combining treated water infrastructure with local governance and performance monitoring, we are creating a model that improves access, strengthens watershed resilience and delivers enduring value,” Olatunji said, adding that the company’s focus remained on completing the remaining project scope and delivering measurable outcomes that benefit communities and support business continuity.
Joseph Terlumun Utsev, minister of water resources and sanitation, said the long-term performance of the facilities would depend on their ability to provide safe, reliable and sustainable services beyond the commissioning ceremony.
He welcomed the project’s emphasis on governance and water stewardship, particularly the development of a governance training manual for water regeneration and stewardship.
Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of environment, said the initiative showcased the potential of collaboration between government, regulators, local authorities, private-sector operators and host communities to improve access to safe drinking water.
He added that the project supported Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation, and aligned with Nigeria’s environmental priorities.
Victoria Uwadoka, corporate communications, public affairs and sustainability lead at Nestlé Nigeria, said the company was also working to extend water-safety awareness beyond individual project locations through the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and the National Water Quality Handbook, developed with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and OPS-WASH.
“Access alone is not enough. Water must be safe; it must be protected and communities must have the knowledge to manage it responsibly,” Uwadoka said.
Nestlé said its focus remained on completing the remaining scope of the programme and tracking outcomes for communities and business continuity. However, the company’s announcement did not specify the total investment, the number of people expected to benefit, the project completion timeline or the volume of water the commissioned facilities are expected to supply.
