Lagos to seal unlawful boreholes, prosecute operators with out permits

The Lagos State Government has directed borehole operators to safe the mandatory permits earlier than drilling or extracting groundwater, warning that defaulters danger having their amenities sealed and dealing with prosecution.

The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, LASWARCO, mentioned unauthorised borehole drilling and groundwater extraction may expose underground water sources to contamination, set off land subsidence and endanger the state’s water sources.

The warning comes amid rising considerations about groundwater air pollution in Lekki, the place residents have beforehand been cautioned about the opportunity of consuming contaminated water attributable to insufficient wastewater remedy.

In August 2025, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Mahmood Adegbite, raised considerations that residents within the space may very well be uncovered to polluted water due to poor wastewater remedy practices.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ assembly, Adegbite pressured the necessity for correct wastewater remedy to stop additional groundwater contamination and minimise the unfold of waterborne illnesses, in response to Radio Nigeria Lagos.

The state launched laws for borehole drilling and groundwater extraction in 2022 as a part of efforts to stop air pollution and make sure the sustainable administration of its underground water sources.

The then Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Funke Adepoju, defined on the time that the laws coated groundwater abstraction, consumption, provide and distribution.

In an announcement revealed on Facebook on Thursday, the fee mentioned the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, authorised it to supervise borehole drilling, groundwater extraction and water provide providers.

LASWARCO Executive Secretary, Oluwabukola Adeyemo, mentioned people and organisations planning to drill boreholes or extract groundwater should get hold of the related permits earlier than commencing operations.

“Drilling or abstracting groundwater without LASWARCO authorisation is illegal and punishable under the Law,” Adeyemo mentioned.

She warned that the fee would seal amenities working with out the required approval and provoke prosecution towards these accountable.

Adeyemo additionally appealed to residents and neighborhood leaders to help the fee by reporting circumstances of unlawful borehole drilling and unauthorised groundwater extraction.