The Lagos State Government has directed borehole operators to safe the required permits earlier than drilling or extracting groundwater, warning that defaulters danger having their services sealed and dealing with prosecution.
The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, LASWARCO, stated unauthorised borehole drilling and groundwater extraction may expose underground water sources to contamination, set off land subsidence and endanger the state’s water assets.
The warning comes amid rising issues about groundwater air pollution in Lekki, the place residents have beforehand been cautioned about the opportunity of consuming contaminated water due to insufficient wastewater therapy.
In August 2025, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Mahmood Adegbite, raised issues that residents within the space may very well be uncovered to polluted water due to poor wastewater therapy practices.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ assembly, Adegbite careworn the necessity for correct wastewater therapy to forestall additional groundwater contamination and minimise the unfold of waterborne ailments, in accordance to Radio Nigeria Lagos.
The state launched rules for borehole drilling and groundwater extraction in 2022 as a part of efforts to forestall air pollution and make sure the sustainable administration of its underground water assets.
The then Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Funke Adepoju, defined on the time that the rules coated groundwater abstraction, consumption, provide and distribution.
In an announcement printed on Facebook on Thursday, the fee stated the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, authorised it to oversee borehole drilling, groundwater extraction and water provide providers.
LASWARCO Executive Secretary, Oluwabukola Adeyemo, stated people and organisations planning to drill boreholes or extract groundwater should receive the related permits earlier than commencing operations.
“Drilling or abstracting groundwater without LASWARCO authorisation is illegal and punishable under the Law,” Adeyemo stated.
She warned that the fee would seal services working without the required approval and provoke prosecution in opposition to these accountable.
Adeyemo additionally appealed to residents and group leaders to help the fee by reporting instances of illegal borehole drilling and unauthorised groundwater extraction.
