Rhodes-Vivour Blasts Lagos Govt Over Threat to Seal Boreholes

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has criticised the state government over its threat to seal properties operating unauthorised boreholes and prosecute offenders.

Rhodes-Vivour accused the government of prioritising regulatory enforcement over its responsibility to provide residents with access to clean and potable water.

His criticism followed a warning by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) that residents and businesses drilling boreholes or extracting groundwater without the required permits risk having their facilities sealed and facing prosecution.

The commission’s Executive Secretary, Oluwabukola Adeyemo, said LASWARCO was empowered under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, to regulate borehole drilling, groundwater abstraction and water supply services.

Adeyemo explained that uncontrolled groundwater extraction could cause contamination, land subsidence and other environmental and public health risks.

However, reacting to the warning, Rhodes-Vivour argued that the government had failed to provide adequate potable water despite receiving substantial loans and grants.

He questioned the justification for penalising residents who depend on privately drilled boreholes to meet their basic water needs when public water supply remains inadequate in many communities.

The ADC candidate also raised concerns over the Adiyan Water Works Phase II project, claiming that it was already 80 per cent complete when the APC took over the Lagos State Government.

He further alleged that the government reported in December 2025 that the project was 85 per cent complete, yet it had not become operational.

Rhodes-Vivour also questioned the availability of water within the offices of the Lagos State Water Corporation, arguing that the government should demonstrate effective service delivery before intensifying enforcement against residents.

He accused successive administrations of failing to prioritise access to drinking water, while describing the threat of sanctions against borehole operators as unfair to households already struggling with inadequate public infrastructure.

Meanwhile, LASWARCO maintained that obtaining approval before drilling boreholes or extracting groundwater was a legal requirement aimed at protecting the state’s water resources and ensuring sustainable groundwater management.

The commission urged intending borehole operators to obtain the necessary permits before commencing work and encouraged residents to report unauthorised groundwater extraction.

The controversy has renewed debate over the balance between environmental regulation and access to essential public services, particularly in communities where residents depend heavily on private boreholes.