A coalition of civil society organisations, community groups and trade unions has threatened coordinated mass resistance across Lagos State over alleged plans by the state government to clamp down on domestic boreholes.
The coalition, under the umbrella of the Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC), warned that any attempt by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) or government task forces to seal residential boreholes would be resisted across all local government areas of the state.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the groups accused the state government of attempting to criminalise residents’ efforts to secure access to water despite years of inadequate public water supply.
The warning followed a statement attributed to the Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Oluwabukola Adeyemo, cautioning that drilling boreholes and extracting groundwater without government authorisation could attract property sealing and criminal prosecution.
The Commission had also reportedly introduced a dedicated hotline for residents and community leaders to report unauthorised drilling and groundwater extraction.
However, OWORAC insisted that the Commission’s position had created unnecessary fear and confusion, particularly among residents of low-income communities who depend on boreholes for their daily water needs.
Citing the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017, the coalition argued that domestic boreholes and wells in residential premises are exempted from licensing requirements.
It specifically referenced Section 253(1), which permits residents to construct or extend boreholes in residential premises for household water supply without obtaining a licence from the Lagos State Water Corporation.
The groups also cited Section 259(2), which they said limits licensing requirements to boreholes used for purposes other than domestic consumption, particularly commercial and industrial activities.
According to the coalition, LASWARCO’s failure to acknowledge these exemptions in its public warnings amounts to an overreach of its regulatory powers.
The groups questioned the proposed enforcement in view of what they described as the poor performance of the state’s public water infrastructure.
They cited Lagos Water Corporation records indicating that its network has only 34,424 registered connections, representing approximately 1.03 per cent direct coverage in a state with more than 20 million residents.
Even by the corporation’s estimate that the connections serve multiple households, the coalition argued that more than 91 per cent of Lagos residents remain without access to public piped water.
It also accused the government of neglecting major water infrastructure, including the Iju, Adiyan and Ishasi waterworks, which it said were operating below capacity.
The coalition further criticised Section 252 of the 2017 law, which it said shields the Lagos Water Corporation from liability for damages or compensation arising from the failure or interruption of public water supply.
It maintained that the government could not absolve itself of responsibility for providing water while threatening residents who had resorted to privately funded boreholes to meet their basic needs.
The groups also highlighted the challenges facing communities affected by groundwater contamination, particularly Baruwa, Iludun and Ajegunle, as well as coastal areas such as Lekki, where sewage pollution and saline intrusion have reportedly affected groundwater quality.
They said residents in such communities were increasingly forced to purchase water from private vendors at considerable cost.
Where groundwater remains usable, the coalition noted that residents have developed community-based arrangements, including sharing water through extended taps and pooling resources to power borehole pumps.
It urged the state government to support such initiatives rather than dismantle what it described as essential community water supply systems.
The coalition also accused LASWARCO of applying double standards in its regulatory approach, alleging that the Commission had adopted a more accommodating attitude towards multinational companies involved in commercial water extraction.
It recalled regulatory engagements with Nigerian Bottling Company, Guinness Nigeria and FrieslandCampina WAMCO in late 2024, noting that the Commission had reportedly acknowledged spending more than seven years engaging some industrial operators over compliance issues.
The groups questioned why ordinary residents should face threats of prosecution and property sealing while industrial water users were given years of negotiations.
They further expressed concern that the proposed crackdown could pave the way for private water schemes and prepaid metering arrangements, potentially forcing residents into a restricted water market.
To address the concerns, OWORAC called on LASWARCO to immediately clarify that domestic boreholes and wells are exempt from licensing under the 2017 law and assure residents that their properties would not be sealed over household water extraction.
The coalition also urged the state government to abandon plans to privatise the Lagos Water Corporation and instead prioritise the rehabilitation of existing waterworks and the expansion of safe, affordable piped water supply.
It called for stricter enforcement against high-volume commercial water extractors and industrial polluters, as well as governance reforms that would give workers, communities, trade unions and civil society organisations a role in managing the public water utility.
The groups urged Community Development Associations, youth organisations, labour unions, artisans, market women and neighbourhood networks to remain vigilant and organised in defence of their access to water.
They warned that any attempt by LASWARCO or armed task forces to enter residential communities, demand permits for domestic boreholes or seal such facilities would trigger legal action and coordinated mass protests across Lagos.
The statement was endorsed by 25 individuals representing various civil society organisations, community associations and labour groups, including Adewale Ojo of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Akin Okunowo of the Anti-Cult Alliance Movement and Gbenga Komolafe of the Federation of Informal Workers Organisation of Nigeria (FIWON).
