UNILAG Confirms Water Contamination in Female Hostel, Advises Boiling of Drinking Water
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has confirmed contamination in water samples collected from Moremi Hall, a female hostel, and has advised members of the university community to boil water before drinking or using it for cooking, pending the completion of ongoing laboratory tests on other hostels.
The university made this known in an update issued on Thursday by the Head of its Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, following earlier reports of suspected contamination after some students complained of vomiting and diarrhoea.
The institution had earlier commenced a comprehensive assessment of its water supply system, including laboratory testing, after concerns were raised by students, particularly those residing in female hostels, over the quality of water supplied to their residences.
Preliminary laboratory results confirmed contamination in water samples obtained from Moremi Hall, while tests on samples from other halls of residence are still ongoing.
According to the university, immediate precautionary and remedial measures have been implemented to contain the contamination and prevent any possible spread within the campus community.
It attributed the situation partly to the university’s location on wetlands and the ongoing rainy season, which may have contributed to environmental changes affecting water quality.
The management directed students and staff to use available water only for washing and sanitation, stressing that water intended for drinking, cooking, or other domestic use must be boiled until further notice.
It also urged any member of the university community experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, or related health issues to promptly report to the University Medical Centre for proper assessment and treatment.
The university appealed for calm and advised the community to rely strictly on official communication channels for verified updates, while cautioning against the spread of unverified information that could cause unnecessary panic.
Source: Punch