By Erewunmi Peace

The Lafiagi Waterworks in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State remains in a state of disrepair despite government claims of rehabilitation and millions of naira reportedly spent on the project, sparking outrage from residents and civil society groups.

Community members lament that the water facility, which was expected to provide safe and steady water supply to thousands of residents, has remained non-functional, forcing locals to depend on contaminated streams and private boreholes.

Activists and civic organizations have called for an independent investigation into how funds allocated for the rehabilitation were utilized. They argue that the condition of the facility raises serious questions about transparency and accountability in project execution.

Meanwhile, a journalist and publisher of NUPEKO TV-Lafiagi, Tauheed Baruwa Muhammed, has been remanded in prison custody following a complaint filed by the state’s Commissioner for Water Resources, Usman Yunusa Lade.

Muhammed was arraigned at the Upper Area Court I, Ilorin, over a Facebook post in which he criticized the state government’s handling of the Lafiagi Waterworks project. The post allegedly accused the commissioner of mismanagement and failure to deliver on promises made to residents.

While the commissioner claims the post was defamatory, several rights groups have condemned the journalist’s detention, describing it as an attempt to intimidate the press and silence public scrutiny.

“Instead of fixing the problem, they are going after the person who exposed it. This is unacceptable in a democracy,” said a representative of a Kwara-based civic group.

Investigations by The Investigator NG and Sahara Reporters reveal that the government had announced rehabilitation efforts across multiple water facilities, including Lafiagi, with a reported N48.5 million approved for the works. However, locals say there has been little to no improvement on the ground.

As public pressure mounts, activists are urging the Kwara State Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to audit the funds spent on the waterworks and ensure that those responsible for any mismanagement are held accountable.