By Our Reporter
The Lagos State Government has warned residents against drilling boreholes or extracting groundwater without obtaining the necessary permits from the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), saying offenders risk prosecution and the sealing of their properties.
The government, through LASWARCO, expressed concern over the unauthorised and indiscriminate drilling of boreholes and groundwater abstraction across the state.
In a statement, the Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Barr. Oluwabukola Khadijah Adeyemo, said the commission was statutorily empowered under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, to regulate borehole drilling, groundwater abstraction and water supply services in the state.
Adeyemo warned that unregulated groundwater extraction posed serious public health risks, including groundwater contamination, land subsidence and threats to the long-term water security of millions of Lagos residents.
She said drilling boreholes or abstracting groundwater without the commission’s authorisation was illegal and punishable under the law, urging all intending drillers and groundwater users to obtain the required permits before commencing operations.
The executive secretary added that the commission would not hesitate to seal facilities found operating in violation of the regulations and prosecute offenders.
She urged residents, community leaders and other stakeholders to support the government’s enforcement efforts by reporting cases of illegal borehole drilling and groundwater abstraction to LASWARCO by visiting its office at Block 19, third floor, Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
