The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to residents in the Lekki area, cautioning that boreholes drilled in the locality may be producing highly contaminated water.
Speaking at a recent stakeholders’ forum, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Mr. Mahmood Adegbite, said residents sourcing water from boreholes in the Lekki axis are “probably drinking fecal matter.”
“On wastewater treatment, I will say that everyone digging boreholes within the Lekki axis is probably drinking what I would call ‘waste-contaminated water,’” Adegbite stated.
He explained that the increasing contamination is a result of untreated wastewater infiltrating underground water sources. According to him, the government has plans to expand wastewater treatment across the area to mitigate health risks.
“If we are able to treat all the wastewater within this axis – which we have plans for – we should be able to eradicate any form of disease that might result from the current poor water quality,” he assured.
Adegbite also addressed concerns over urban flooding, noting that recent heavy rainfall during the expected “August break” period was evidence of ongoing environmental complexity.
“Yesterday, it rained heavily, which is unusual because this is supposed to be the August break. However, this anomaly is due to a number of complex factors. Despite the state’s efforts and financial commitments, more work still needs to be done,” he said.
The comments have sparked widespread discussion on water safety and environmental management in Lagos, especially in the rapidly developing Lekki corridor.
