Company expands water regeneration initiative, with emphasis on safe drinking water, community ownership and long-term sustainability
Nestlé Nigeria Plc has commissioned eight climate-smart boreholes and water treatment facilities in communities within the Agbara catchment of Ogun State, strengthening efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and promote sustainable water management.
The commissioning represents a significant milestone in the company’s Water Regeneration Project, which spans the Agbara catchment in Ogun State and the Abaji catchment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The initiative combines water infrastructure development with conservation, water quality advocacy and community-led governance to ensure that access to safe water is sustained beyond the installation of facilities.
The broader project comprises 24 climate-smart boreholes, with eight located in Agbara and 16 planned for Abaji. It also incorporates water treatment plants, routine water quality monitoring, rainwater harvesting systems and the establishment of community water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) committees.
Through these interconnected measures, the project seeks to address not only the availability of water but also its safety, responsible use and long-term accessibility. Governance training is designed to equip community representatives with the knowledge to oversee operations, organise preventive maintenance, report faults and monitor water quality.
Speaking at the commissioning, Olutayo Olatunji, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, described the development as an important step in the company’s broader sustainability efforts.
“The Agbara commissioning is an important milestone within our wider Water Regeneration Project and reflects Nestlé’s commitment to helping 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. As we finalise the remaining scope, our focus remains on rigorous delivery and measurable outcomes that benefit communities and support business continuity,” he said.
The initiative also underscores the importance of maintaining water facilities after commissioning, particularly through effective governance structures and clearly defined responsibilities among community stakeholders.
The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, emphasised that the long-term effectiveness of water infrastructure depends on its continued operation and proper management.
“Commissioning a facility is only the beginning; ensuring that it continues to provide safe, reliable and sustainable service is the true measure of success. It is encouraging that this initiative places strong emphasis on governance and water stewardship through the development of a governance training manual for water regeneration and stewardship,” he said.
His remarks highlighted the need for communities and other stakeholders to take an active role in protecting water facilities and ensuring that they continue to serve their intended purpose.
Similarly, the Honourable Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, commended the collaboration between the private sector, public institutions and host communities, describing the initiative as an example of how partnerships can advance sustainable development.
At the community level, the commissioning was welcomed as an important development for residents of Agbara, where reliable access to safe water has implications for public health, household welfare and overall quality of life.
Speaking on behalf of the host community, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, Olute III, the Alagbara of Agbara Kingdom, expressed gratitude for the intervention while urging residents to protect the facilities.
“Today is a day of gratitude for the people of Agbara. Safe water touches every part of our lives: the health of our children, the dignity of our homes and the hopes of our families. Today, it has come closer to all of us. But Agbara has received more than boreholes; we have received a responsibility,” he said.
The traditional ruler called on community leaders, WASH committees and residents to take collective responsibility for the facilities, stressing that their continued usefulness would depend on proper care and timely reporting of faults.
“As custodians of this land, I charge our chiefs, Baales, WASH committees and every resident to treat these facilities as our own, guard them against misuse and report faults promptly. What has been started here today, Agbara will sustain for our children and for generations yet unborn,” he added.
Beyond infrastructure, Nestlé Nigeria is also supporting efforts to improve public understanding of water safety through the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and the National Water Quality Handbook, developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and OPS-WASH.
Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, said the campaign was intended to extend water safety knowledge beyond project locations to households, schools, communities and institutions.
“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, we are helping to take water safety knowledge beyond project sites into homes, schools, communities and institutions. Access alone is not enough. Water must be safe, it must be protected, and communities must have the knowledge to manage it responsibly,” she said.
The project’s four pillars—Water Access, Water Quality, Water Conservation and Water Governance—are designed to work together to strengthen local water systems. While the boreholes and treatment facilities improve access to water, monitoring and treatment processes support water safety. Rainwater harvesting promotes conservation, while community committees and governance training are intended to encourage accountability and local ownership.
For Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, the integrated approach connects community development with watershed resilience, responsible water management and business continuity. The model recognises that sustainable access depends on infrastructure being supported by effective oversight, conservation practices and informed community participation.
The commissioning in Agbara reflects collaboration among government authorities, regulators, traditional institutions, community leaders, WASH committees, OPS-WASH and other technical partners.
With the remaining project activities in Abaji expected to progress towards completion and handover, Nestlé Nigeria says it will continue to focus on implementation, transparent validation and strong community ownership.
The broader objective is to establish water facilities that remain functional and beneficial over time, while strengthening local capacity to protect water resources and promote responsible stewardship.
Nestlé Nigeria Plc is a food and beverage company operating in Nigeria, with brands including NESTLÉ PURELIFE, GOLDEN MORN, MILO, MAGGI and NESCAFÉ. The company says its broader mission is to enhance quality of life through food and beverages for present and future generations.