Lagos Says Borehole Regulation Is Not a New Tax, Cites Existing Water Law
The Lagos State Government has rejected claims circulating online that it has introduced a new tax on private boreholes.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab said the current exercise concerns the regulation of borehole drilling and groundwater abstraction. According to the state, the framework already exists under the Environmental Management Protection Law of 2017.
The government said the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission is increasing compliance checks for permits and standards. It argued that groundwater oversight is intended to reduce contamination, uncontrolled extraction and land-subsidence risks while protecting long-term water security.
The clarification is important because many Lagos households and businesses rely on privately supplied groundwater where public pipe-borne water is unavailable. Residents may still face existing permit or compliance requirements, but the state’s position is that these measures should not be described as a newly created borehole tax.
MBTV has not seen evidence of a newly enacted tax law in the materials reviewed. Residents and borehole operators should verify any payment demand through official state channels before paying.
Sources
Featured image is a licensed illustrative photograph of a water pump and is not a documentary image from Lagos.
