Lagos govt denies introducing new tax law on private boreholes

Lagos State Government has refuted viral social media posts and commentaries about the introduction of a "new borehole tax" in the state.

The State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a press statement, said the current exercise, which has been termed by some as "a new tax law", is the regulation of borehole drilling and groundwater abstraction in the state.

According to Wahab, the exercise is in line with established environmental and water resource management laws of the state and is not a new creation.

He emphasised that section 312 (1) XVII of the Environmental Management Protection Law (EMPL) 2017 empowers Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LAWRECO) to regulate indiscriminate borehole drilling activities across the state.

He explained that groundwater regulation is a globally accepted practice aimed at protecting water resources, preventing contamination, mitigating land subsidence, and ensuring long-term water security.

The Commissioner said that, towards this end, the agency responsible for regulating groundwater in the state, the Lagos State Water

Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), has stepped up the regulation of compliance with existing permit requirements across the state.

He said the State Government acknowledges the challenges many residents face regarding access to potable water and remains committed to continued investment in water infrastructure to expand public water supply across Lagos.

"While public scrutiny of government policies is welcome, it is important that discussions are based on verified facts. The characterisation of regulatory compliance measures as a newly introduced ‘borehole tax’ is inaccurate and does not reflect the policy being implemented".

The Commissioner also urged residents to seek information from official channels, as it remains committed to transparent engagement, environmental sustainability, and improved service delivery for all Lagosians.