Lagos borehole dispute: groups seek clarity on household permit requirements
A coalition of civil society organisations, community groups and trade unions has asked Lagos authorities to clarify how groundwater permit requirements apply to household boreholes, while the state government denies introducing a new borehole tax.
The Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition raised its concerns in a November 4 statement following an enforcement warning by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, LASWARCO.
According to Premium Times, the coalition threatened protests if authorities sealed residential boreholes or prosecuted residents drawing water for household use. It argued that inadequate public supply had forced households to fund their own alternatives.
The groups cited Sections 253(1) and 259(2) of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, which they said distinguish domestic boreholes from those requiring licences for other uses. They asked the regulator to explain that distinction publicly.
The government subsequently rejected descriptions of the exercise as a new tax.
In a statement reported on November 7, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab said authorities were enforcing existing groundwater regulations.
He said the oversight was intended to protect underground water resources, prevent contamination and reduce the risk of land sinking. The government also acknowledged difficulties accessing potable water and reiterated its commitment to expanding public supply.
The government statement reviewed did not explicitly address the coalition’s argument that household boreholes are exempt from the licensing provisions it cited.
The dispute involves statements issued before November 10. No new residential sealing operation or enforcement directive dated November 10 was established in the material reviewed.