The Lagos State Government has clarified that it has not launched a new tax on non-public boreholes however is as a substitute imposing current rules governing borehole drilling and groundwater extraction throughout the state.
The clarification was made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in keeping with a press release on the official Facebook web page of the Lagos State Government on Saturday.
The authorities mentioned the continuing train, which has been described on social media as a new borehole tax, is geared toward guaranteeing compliance with current environmental and water useful resource administration legal guidelines.
Lagos says borehole regulation isn’t a new tax
Wahab defined that the regulation of borehole drilling and groundwater abstraction is backed by Section 312 (1) XVII of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law (EMPL) 2017, which empowers the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) to control indiscriminate borehole drilling throughout the state.
He mentioned the present train isn’t a newly launched coverage however an enforcement of current allow necessities by the company chargeable for regulating groundwater sources in Lagos.
- “Lagos State Government has refuted viral social media posts and commentaries in regards to the introduction of a ‘new borehole tax’ within the state.
- “The State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a press statement, said the current exercise, which has been termed by some as ‘a new tax law’, is the regulation of borehole drilling and groundwater abstraction in the state,” the assertion learn partially.
According to the Commissioner, groundwater regulation is an internationally recognised follow designed to guard underground water sources, forestall contamination, mitigate land subsidence and guarantee long-term water safety.
He added that LASWARCO has intensified efforts to make sure compliance with current allow necessities as a part of the state’s broader method to managing groundwater sources.
The Commissioner acknowledged the challenges residents face in accessing potable water however maintained that the state authorities stays dedicated to investing in water infrastructure to develop public water provide throughout Lagos.
- Reiterating the federal government’s place, Wahab mentioned, “The characterisation of regulatory compliance measures as a newly introduced ‘borehole tax’ is inaccurate and does not reflect the policy being implemented.”
He urged residents to depend on verified data from official authorities channels, including that the federal government stays dedicated to transparency, environmental sustainability and improved service supply.
LASWARCO threatens to seal unlawful boreholes
The clarification comes after LASWARCO warned that it might seal unlawful boreholes and prosecute operators extracting groundwater with out the required permits.
In a press release issued by its Executive Secretary, Barr. Oluwabukola Khadijah Adeyemo, the fee directed potential borehole drillers and groundwater abstractors to acquire the mandatory permits earlier than commencing operations throughout the state.
Adeyemo mentioned the fee had noticed with grave concern the indiscriminate drilling of boreholes and groundwater extraction with out the requisite permits and approvals.
She warned that the company wouldn’t hesitate to seal amenities working in violation of the rules and prosecute offenders.
The fee recognized groundwater contamination, land subsidence and threats to the long-term water safety of Lagos residents as dangers related to uncontrolled borehole drilling.
LASWARCO mentioned it’s statutorily empowered below the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 to control borehole drilling, groundwater abstraction and water provide providers throughout the state.
The warning reinforces the fee’s place that borehole operators should acquire the required approvals earlier than extracting groundwater.
Lagos started groundwater regulation in 2022
The Lagos State Government commenced the regulation of entry to underground water in August 2022 as a part of efforts to handle groundwater sources and stop air pollution.
- The initiative was designed to strengthen oversight of borehole drilling, groundwater abstraction, consumption, provide and distribution to make sure the sustainable administration of water sources.
- In August 2025, the state authorities additionally warned that residents drilling boreholes within the Lekki axis may very well be uncovered to contaminated water.
- The warning was issued by Mahmood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary within the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, throughout a stakeholders’ assembly.
Adegbite mentioned contaminated boreholes in Lekki posed well being dangers to residents, including that correct wastewater therapy within the space might assist forestall illnesses related to untreated waste.
