The Lagos State Government has warned individuals and organisations operating boreholes without official approval that their facilities could be sealed and those responsible prosecuted.
The warning was issued by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), which directed all borehole operators and groundwater extractors to obtain the necessary permits before commencing operations.
The commission said unregulated drilling and extraction could threaten underground water reserves, increase the risk of groundwater contamination and contribute to land subsidence.
In a statement published on its Facebook page on Thursday, LASWARCO Executive Secretary, Oluwabukola Adeyemo, said the commission had the legal authority to regulate borehole drilling, groundwater extraction and water supply services under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017.
Adeyemo warned that anyone who drills a borehole or extracts groundwater without the commission’s authorisation would be violating the law.
“Drilling or abstracting groundwater without LASWARCO authorisation is illegal and punishable under the Law,” she said.
She added that the commission would take enforcement action against defaulters, including sealing unauthorised facilities and prosecuting those involved.
Adeyemo also urged residents and community leaders to report suspected cases of illegal borehole drilling and groundwater extraction to the relevant authorities.
The directive comes amid concerns over groundwater quality in parts of Lagos, particularly Lekki, where inadequate wastewater treatment has raised fears of possible contamination.
In August 2025, Permanent Secretary in the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Mahmood Adegbite, warned that poor wastewater treatment practices could expose residents in the area to polluted water.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting, Adegbite called for improved wastewater management to protect underground water sources and reduce the spread of waterborne diseases, according to Radio Nigeria Lagos.
Lagos introduced regulations governing borehole drilling and groundwater extraction in 2022 as part of efforts to protect its underground water resources.
The regulations cover groundwater abstraction, consumption, supply and distribution. The then Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Funke Adepoju, said the framework was designed to ensure proper management of groundwater resources across the State.