The Lagos State Government has warned residents of Lekki that the water they get from boreholes may be contaminated with human waste, putting their health at serious risk.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, Mahmood Adegbite, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, said many boreholes in the Lekki area may be drawing water polluted by untreated wastewater.
“Everyone digging a borehole within the Lekki axis is probably drinking what I will call ‘shit water’,” Mr Adegbite said bluntly.
He explained that the lack of proper wastewater treatment in the area means that underground water sources, such as boreholes, may be polluted by sewage and waste materials. He stressed that this poses a threat to public health and could lead to disease outbreaks if not addressed.
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Adegbite said the government is already working on plans to treat wastewater in the area to prevent the spread of diseases.
“If we are able to treat all the wastewater within this axis, which we have plans for, we should be able to also eradicate any form of disease that might result,” he said.
His comments came after more than 12 hours of heavy rainfall on Monday led to flooding in several parts of Lagos, including Lekki.
He noted that although August is usually a dry period known as the “August break,” the city experienced unusual rain, which he linked to complex environmental problems.
“Yesterday, it rained heavily, which is unusual because this is supposed to be August break. Despite the fact that we have committed so much [to flood control], we still need a lot to do in that space,” he said.
Residents are now being urged to take extra care and to consider the risks of drinking untreated water from boreholes, especially in areas prone to flooding and poor sewage management. The government also promised to improve drainage systems and continue efforts to reduce environmental hazards across the state.