Coalition threatens mass action over Lagos govt’s planned crackdown regarding unlicensed borehole

A coalition of civil society organisations, neighborhood teams and commerce unions has threatened mass action throughout Lagos if the state authorities makes an attempt to seal residential boreholes or prosecute residents for extracting groundwater with out authorisation.

The teams, below the Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC), stated residents had been compelled to rely on boreholes as a result of the federal government had failed to supply sufficient public water provide.

In a press release on Wednesday, the coalition requested the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) to make clear its place on home boreholes, following its warning that unauthorised drilling and groundwater extraction might result in the sealing of amenities and prosecution of operators.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that LASWARCO’s Executive Secretary, Oluwabukola Adeyemo, had warned that anybody desiring to drill a borehole or extract groundwater should first get hold of the required permits.

Ms Adeyemo defined that unauthorised groundwater extraction was unlawful below the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017. She additionally urged residents and neighborhood leaders to report unauthorised drilling and extraction by a devoted hotline.

But the coalition stated the legislation exempts boreholes used for home functions from licensing necessities.

It cited Section 253(1), which permits residents to assemble or prolong wells and boreholes in residential premises with no licence, supplied they’re used for family water provide. It additionally referred to Section 259(2), which requires authorisation for boreholes meant for functions aside from home use.

The teams accused LASWARCO of inflicting pointless panic by threatening enforcement with out explaining the exemptions within the legislation.

They argued that the proposed crackdown was unfair given the restricted attain of the state’s public water community.

Citing figures from the Lagos Water Corporation, the coalition stated the utility had 34,424 registered connections, representing about 1.03 per cent direct protection in a state with greater than 20 million residents.

Even with the company’s clarification that the connections serve a number of households, the teams stated the community reached solely about 8.3 per cent of residents, leaving the overwhelming majority depending on different sources.

They blamed the federal government for the poor efficiency of main waterworks in Iju, Adiyan and Ishashi, saying residents had been left to supply water for themselves.

The coalition additionally criticised Section 252 of the 2017 legislation, which it stated shields the Lagos Water Corporation from legal responsibility for damages arising from the failure or interruption of public water provide.

“A government that actively absolves itself of the constitutional duty to deliver water cannot legitimately turn around to criminalise and extort citizens who were forced to become their own mini-water authorities and service providers,” the teams stated.

They acknowledged that the state of affairs was worse in communities the place groundwater had been affected by air pollution.

According to the coalition, residents of Baruwa, Iludun and Ajegunle face contamination linked to petroleum pipelines, whereas communities alongside the Lekki coastal hall take care of sewage air pollution and saltwater intrusion.

It stated residents in affected areas have been compelled to spend closely on water equipped by personal distributors.

The teams additionally accused LASWARCO of treating industrial water customers extra leniently than peculiar residents.

They recalled that the fee engaged multinational firms, together with Nigerian Bottling Company, Guinness Nigeria and FrieslandCampina WAMCO, over regulatory compliance in 2024.

According to the coalition, LASWARCO had disclosed that it spent greater than seven years discussing compliance with among the firms regardless of excellent points.

The teams questioned why the fee would permit years of engagement with massive firms whereas threatening households that rely on boreholes for his or her each day water wants.

They additional alleged that the proposed enforcement might weaken community-managed water provide preparations and push residents in the direction of personal water schemes and pay as you go metering.

The coalition urged the state authorities to desert plans to privatise the Lagos Water Corporation and as a substitute rehabilitate current waterworks, increase public water provide and strengthen enforcement in opposition to large-scale business groundwater extraction and industrial air pollution.

It additionally referred to as for reforms within the administration of the company to present employees, communities, commerce unions and civil society organisations a higher function in its operations.

The teams requested LASWARCO to make clear that home boreholes and wells have been exempt from licensing and guarantee residents that their properties wouldn’t be sealed for extracting water for family use.

They referred to as on neighborhood improvement associations, youth teams, labour unions, artisans and market girls throughout the state to organise in opposition to any try and shut down home boreholes.

The coalition warned that any try by LASWARCO or authorities activity forces to enter residential communities, demand permits or seal home boreholes can be met with authorized action and coordinated mass resistance.

The assertion was signed by 25 representatives of civil society organisations, commerce unions and neighborhood teams, together with Adewale Ojo, chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights; Zikora Ibeh of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa; Okechukwu Nwanguma of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre; and Gbenga Komolafe of the Federation of Informal Workers Organisation of Nigeria.