Ogun Water Corporation to clamps down on illegal connections, meter bypass

The Ogun State Water Corporation (OGSWC) has launched a major crackdown on illegalities involving illegal water connections, meter bypasses, and unauthorized service lines. Damilola Otubanjo, the Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Water Resources, made this announcement at her office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Otubanjo revealed that numerous households regularly employ unaccredited plumbers to bypass water meters, enabling them to avoid vending centers and consume unmetered water. She stated that these actions have disrupted the water corporation's operations, preventing them from earning the revenue they should for the services provided.

The SA appealed to the general public to join the campaign against illegal connections, report instances of pipeline vandalism, and support the corporation's efforts to provide clean, portable treated water to households and businesses throughout the state. Otubanjo specifically mentioned cases where individuals have executed unauthorized tap-downs on service lines extended to new neighborhoods and operated illegal commercial water businesses tapping into the state's main distribution network.

She emphasized that such illegal activities not only harm the corporation but also deprive paying customers of adequate water supply, severely undermining the government's efforts to deliver clean, reliable water to those who comply with regulations. Otubanjo urged residents using unauthorized connections to regularize their status immediately at the nearest agency office to avoid heavy penalties and prosecution.