By Suad Ayinla
Edited by Bababunmi Agbebi
For many Lagos households, a borehole is more than an alternative source of water. It is part of how they meet their daily needs when public water supply is unavailable or unreliable.
But the Lagos State Government has warned that borehole operators who fail to comply with regulatory requirements could have their facilities sealed and face prosecution.
The warning was issued by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), following concerns over unauthorised borehole drilling and groundwater extraction across the state.
The commission’s Executive Secretary, Oluwabukola Khadijah Adeyemo, said unregulated groundwater extraction could pose public health and environmental risks, including groundwater contamination, land subsidence and threats to the state’s underground water resources.
Adeyemo explained that LASWARCO is empowered under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, to regulate borehole drilling, groundwater abstraction and water supply services.
She urged individuals and organisations intending to drill boreholes or extract groundwater to obtain the necessary authorisation from the commission. Facilities found operating without the required approval, she warned, could be sealed, while offenders could face prosecution.
Why Is Lagos Regulating Borehole Drilling?
Groundwater is an important source of water for homes, businesses and other establishments across Lagos. However, drilling without proper oversight can create environmental and public health concerns.
Poorly located or constructed boreholes may become vulnerable to contamination, particularly where sanitation systems and wastewater disposal are inadequate. Excessive groundwater extraction can also affect underground water reserves and contribute to land subsidence.
LASWARCO says regulation is necessary to protect these resources and ensure their sustainable use.
What Does the Warning Mean for Borehole Owners?
The announcement raises important questions for residents who already depend on privately drilled boreholes.
For instance, what happens to existing boreholes? Will owners be given an opportunity to regularise their operations? What are the applicable permit requirements, and how much will compliance cost?
There is also a distinction between commercial groundwater extraction and a household borehole used solely for domestic needs. Section 253 of the 2017 law contains a provision concerning domestic boreholes in residential premises, making it important for LASWARCO to clarify how the provision applies under its current regulatory requirements.
Residents and community leaders can report suspected unauthorised borehole drilling and groundwater extraction to LASWARCO through its hotline on 0816 878 2223 or visit its office at Block 19, third floor, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
As the government moves to strengthen groundwater regulation, residents will need clear information about the rules, the application process and how enforcement will affect existing borehole owners.
Protecting Lagos’ water resources is important, but so is ensuring that residents understand the regulations governing one of their most essential daily needs.
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