Lekki borehole water contamination poses a serious health risk, says Lagos official. Residents may be drinking unsafe water due to untreated waste. Learn more

Lekki borehole water contamination is now a growing concern, as Lagos State officials warn that many residents in the upscale area may unknowingly be consuming severely polluted water.

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In a shocking revelation, Mahmood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, stated during a recent stakeholders meeting that many people drilling boreholes in Lekki are “probably drinking shit water.”

The comment, captured in a viral video, underscores the potential public health crisis linked to untreated wastewater and poor drainage infrastructure in the area.

“Everyone digging a borehole within the Lekki axis is probably drinking what I will call ‘shit water,’” Adegbite said, pointing out that without proper wastewater treatment, diseases from contaminated water could spread easily.

He further emphasized the government’s commitment to improving wastewater treatment systems and battling Lagos’ ongoing flooding issues, especially during unusual weather patterns like the recent unexpected August rains.

Also read: ‘Sanction awaits!’ Don’t drill borehole without permit again, Lagos gov’t warns

While the state has invested significantly, Adegbite admitted that much more needs to be done to protect both the environment and public health in Lekki and beyond.