LASWARCO warns of sealing, prosecution over unauthorised boreholes
The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission has warned that unauthorised borehole drilling and groundwater extraction could attract enforcement action, including the sealing of facilities and prosecution, according to published accounts of its October 29 statement.
Premium Times attributed the warning to LASWARCO Executive Secretary Oluwabukola Khadijah Adeyemo and identified a statement posted on the commission’s Facebook account as its source.
Commission cites groundwater protection
According to the reported statement, LASWARCO urged intending drillers and groundwater users to obtain the necessary permits before commencing activities.
The commission cited the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, as the basis for its regulatory authority. Adeyemo said unregulated drilling and extraction could contribute to groundwater contamination, land subsidence and threats to long-term water security.
These concerns form the commission’s stated rationale for enforcement; they are not findings about every borehole operating without authorisation.
Household coverage requires clarification
An older post on LASWARCO’s LinkedIn account presents drilling-permit guidance under the heading “Non Domestic Use of Groundwater”. It describes applications, approved fees and location-specific permit conditions.
That post does not settle current household obligations or establish an exemption from all regulatory requirements.
The material reviewed does not establish the latest warning’s precise application to individual households, the current fee schedule or the treatment of existing installations.
The announcement is an enforcement warning, rather than evidence of a newly enacted law or completed sealing operations.
LASWARCO also urged residents and community leaders to report suspected unauthorised borehole drilling and groundwater extraction, according to the published account of its statement.