Lagos says borehole checks are old rules, not a new tax
- Lagos has denied viral claims that it introduced a new tax on private boreholes.
- The commissioner for environment and water resources says the state is only enforcing existing permit rules.
- The water regulator has warned it will seal illegal boreholes and prosecute operators without permits.
The Lagos State Government has denied social media reports that it has introduced a new tax on private boreholes, saying what residents are seeing is the enforcement of rules that already exist.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the clarification in a statement, according to the Lagos State Government's official Facebook page on Saturday. He said the exercise is about making borehole drillers and groundwater extractors comply with existing permit requirements.
The rules, he said, come from Section 312 (1) XVII of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017. That law gives the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) the power to regulate borehole drilling and groundwater extraction across the state.
Why the state says it is regulating
Wahab said groundwater regulation is a common practice around the world. He said it is meant to protect underground water from contamination, reduce the risk of land sinking, and keep water available for Lagos residents in the long term.
He acknowledged that residents struggle to get clean water, but said the state is still investing in water infrastructure to expand public supply.
"The characterisation of regulatory compliance measures as a newly introduced 'borehole tax' is inaccurate and does not reflect the policy being implemented," Wahab said in the statement. He urged residents to rely on official government channels for information.
The clarification follows a warning from LASWARCO. Its Executive Secretary, Oluwabukola Khadijah Adeyemo, said the commission had noticed with concern that many people are drilling boreholes and extracting groundwater without the required permits and approvals.
She said the commission will seal facilities that break the rules and prosecute offenders. LASWARCO listed contamination, land subsidence and threats to long-term water security as the risks of uncontrolled drilling.
Lagos began regulating access to underground water in August 2022. In August 2025, the state also warned that residents drilling boreholes in the Lekki area could be exposed to contaminated water. Mahmood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary in the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, said at a stakeholders' meeting that proper wastewater treatment in the area could help prevent diseases linked to untreated waste.
What happens next
Borehole drillers and anyone extracting groundwater in Lagos are expected to get the required permits before starting work. Operators who do not comply risk having their facilities sealed and facing prosecution, according to LASWARCO.
Residents who want to confirm the rules should check official state government channels rather than social media posts, the commissioner said.
