The Lagos State Government has raised serious public health concerns, warning that many residents in Lekki may be unknowingly consuming contaminated borehole water containing traces of human waste.
At a recent stakeholders’ meeting, Mahmood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, revealed that poor urban planning and untreated sewage are polluting underground water sources.
“Everyone digging boreholes in Lekki is probably drinking what I’ll call ‘shit water,’” Adegbite said.
Root of the Problem: Poor Wastewater Systems
According to Adegbite, the contamination is linked to inadequate wastewater treatment in the rapidly urbanizing Lekki axis. He assured that the government has plans to improve wastewater management, which would help eliminate related disease risks.
Flooding and Infrastructure Concerns Persist
Adegbite also addressed ongoing flooding issues, pointing to unusual rainfall patterns and stressed that, despite heavy investment, Lagos still needs more infrastructure upgrades.
“Even with all we’ve spent, we still have a long way to go,” he admitted.
This warning highlights broader environmental and health challenges in Lagos, a city grappling with rapid urbanization, climate irregularities, and inadequate drainage systems.
