The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) has sealed the factories of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, and Guinness Nigeria for extracting groundwater for commercial purposes without the necessary authorisation.
The enforcement action, which took place on Tuesday, follows years of engagement with the companies, which LASWARCO claims either partially complied or failed to comply with regulations governing groundwater abstraction.
Olowu Babatunde, Director of Technical Services at LASWARCO, explained that the companies were involved in the extraction of large quantities of groundwater, a practice known as “abstracting,” for commercial use. He noted that the commission had been in discussions with the companies for over seven years, but had to resort to enforcement after their failure to meet regulatory demands.
“We operate a law that empowers us to regulate most of these heavy abstractors in Lagos State,” Babatunde said, emphasizing the need for commercial entities to comply fully with regulations aimed at safeguarding the environment.
Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, further clarified that the Environmental Management Protection Law of 2017 grants LASWARCO the authority to regulate groundwater activities and impose penalties for non-compliance. Wahab warned that unregulated groundwater extraction could lead to severe environmental issues such as land subsidence and contamination of groundwater supplies.
Despite the introduction of a 75 percent waiver on groundwater abstraction fees in 2020, many organizations, including the companies in question, failed to comply with the incentive or seek proper authorisation. LASWARCO’s decision to implement penalties comes after the commission issued letters to the non-compliant entities, giving them a 72-hour ultimatum to comply with regulatory requirements.
The enforcement of these regulations aims to protect the sustainability of Lagos’s groundwater resources and ensure that commercial activities do not harm the environment. LASWARCO’s actions serve as a reminder of the importance of regulatory adherence in safeguarding the city’s natural resources.
