Lagos Moves From Advocacy to Enforcement, Tighten Water Safety, for Lives, Ecosystem, and Public Health

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health and environmental sustainability with plans to strictly enforce water quality and safety standards across the state.
Speaking at a community sensitisation and stakeholder engagement session in Epe, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), Mrs. Oluwabukola Khadijah Adeyemo, said the initiative marks a decisive shift from awareness creation to full regulatory compliance. She stressed that unsafe water practices pose serious health and environmental risks and will no longer be tolerated.

Adeyemo noted that rapid urbanisation, population growth, and climate pressures have made effective regulation of water services unavoidable. She emphasised that access to safe water is a fundamental public good that requires responsible conduct by operators alongside strong regulatory oversight.
She raised concerns over the growing dependence on boreholes due to limited pipe-borne water access, warning that indiscriminate drilling particularly near septic tanks and sewage systems has increased contamination risks and the spread of waterborne diseases. She also highlighted the environmental danger of land subsidence caused by over extraction of groundwater and poorly abandoned boreholes.
The enforcement initiative aligns with the Lagos State Government’s THEMES Agenda, especially its Health and Environment pillar, and supports Nigeria’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

Adeyemo pointed to ongoing investments in water infrastructure, including the Akilo Water Works, the rehabilitation of Adiyan Phase 1, the near completion of Adiyan, Phase 2, and planned upgrades in Epe, as critical steps toward improving access to safe water.
LASWARCO disclosed plans to intensify monitoring of borehole drillers, sachet and bottled water producers, tanker operators, and household water managers, reiterating that all water related activities in Lagos fall under regulatory oversight.
She urged stakeholders to embrace regulation as a protective framework that builds public trust, safeguards consumers, and strengthens the water sector for future generations.

Adeyemo further explained that the enforcement drive is not intended to stifle businesses or livelihoods within the water sector, but to professionalise operations and eliminate practices that compromise public health and environmental safety. According to her, consistent standards across the water value chain will create a more level playing field for compliant operators while protecting residents from exposure to unsafe water.
She emphasised that LASWARCO will adopt a risk-based regulatory approach that combines routine inspections, water quality testing, licensing reviews, and data driven monitoring to ensure adherence to approved guidelines.

Operators found in violation of established standards, she said, will face appropriate sanctions in line with existing laws, while those that demonstrate compliance and best practices will receive guidance and regulatory support.
The Executive Secretary noted that community participation remains central to the success of the initiative. She encouraged residents, community leaders, and civil society organisations to report unsafe practices and engage constructively with regulators, stressing that water safety is a shared responsibility that extends beyond government institutions.

Public awareness, she added, plays a critical role in driving behavioural change and improving compliance at the grassroots level.
Adeyemo also highlighted the importance of inter agency collaboration, noting that LASWARCO is working closely with relevant state institutions, local governments, and environmental authorities to strengthen enforcement outcomes. This coordinated approach, she said, will help close regulatory gaps, improve data sharing, and enhance response to emerging public health and environmental risks linked to water management.

Participants at the engagement session commended the state government’s renewed focus on water safety and infrastructure development, while calling for continued dialogue, technical support, and capacity building for operators, particularly small-scale water service providers. Many stakeholders expressed optimism that sustained engagement and transparent enforcement would improve service quality and restore public confidence in water sources across the state.
The sensitisation exercise concluded with a call for sustained collaboration between regulators, service providers, and communities to ensure that Lagos’ water resources are managed responsibly and equitably. According to Adeyemo, strengthening water governance today is essential to safeguarding the health, livelihoods, and environmental resilience of future generations in Africa’s largest city.