₦airaland Forum

Truth

We ll take our chances

Hamachi:
True, a borehole is better than fetching from the stream — but not all boreholes are created equal.

A shallow borehole, around 10 metres deep, might be cheaper and easier to dig, but it’s also more vulnerable to pollution. Especially in densely populated areas or places with poor sanitation systems, that water can easily get contaminated by soakaways, surface runoff, or even nearby waste dumps. That’s how cholera and typhoid sneak into people’s lives without warning.

A deeper borehole — say, 30 metres or more — taps into a more protected aquifer. It costs more to drill, but it’s usually cleaner, safer, and more reliable long-term. But here’s the kicker: many households can’t afford to go that deep, especially when the cost can run into hundreds of thousands or even millions depending on the soil type.

And yet — water is a basic need.

So imagine a country where even access to clean water is a DIY project, and one that still carries risk depending on how deep your pocket is.

That’s why the conversation has to go beyond "drill a borehole and move on." We need stronger public infrastructure and urban planning. Because safe water shouldn't be a privilege — it should be a right.

You are very correct.
Reading the article, I sincerely wanted to go and slap the man.
It's govt duty to dig boreholes and pipe water to people's homes.
Since people began moving to that Lekki area, there has been NO SINGLE public water works there.
Everybody has had to do EVERYTHING for themselves,
and some idiot opens mouth to make complain about our own borehole again.
-
We used to live in Ikoyi. The water works is abandoned. No more water coming out of there. All the pipes have rusted.
We last got water there some time 2004. Red RUST water at 2am in the night with ZERO pressure.
Lekki NEVER had any water works.

see wetin corruption don cause?

make dem fix water corporation, they cannot do. na they are saying borehole is an health risk??

Essentially, Lagos State has a whole lot of work to do as per the environmental sanitation across the State. It's really dirty and toxic for healthy living.

Hamachi:
You’re not lying—there’s a lot to be angry about. From Lekki to Maitama, even our so-called "prime" areas still struggle with the basics: no water, no stable light, terrible roads, zero planning. We’ve normalised hardship to the point where fixing basic things feels like a luxury. It’s exhausting.

But before we conclude that “something is wrong with Nigerians,” we need to pause.

Most Nigerians are not lazy, stupid, or unaware. In fact, they’re some of the most hardworking, creative, and resilient people on the planet. The problem isn’t the people—it’s the system that has consistently failed them.

Imagine a country where people dig their own boreholes, install their own solar, build private security, and still have to bribe someone for basic documents. That’s not because they're “ghetto” by nature—it’s because the structure forces individuals to carry the burden of government.

Look at Nigerians abroad: same black skin, different system—yet they thrive. So it’s not about “Black people” or even “Africa” leaving Nigeria behind. It’s about leadership, accountability, and planning. Other African countries like Rwanda, Botswana, and Namibia are making progress because systems are being allowed to work—even if imperfectly.

So yes, the situation is frustrating. But blaming the people is like blaming passengers for a plane crash caused by the pilot.

What we need is radical reform, honest leadership, and citizens who refuse to give up. Until then, we’ll keep seeing potential wasted and ghettos wearing designer roofs.

Stop using AI

MoneyMan5:
With the generalization you make your own education is also subpar at best

The most brilliant mind you call Igbo in south east like Ngozi Iweala, Chinua achebe all schooled in the West

says who...telling lies

Achebe schooled at CKC Onitsha .
Ngozi schooled at Asaba

fergie001:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5v-F81hNTs


https://punchng.com/video-everyone-digging-borehole-in-lekki-is-probably-drinking-shit-water-lagos-govt/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMABDJjbGNrAwAEK2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEewOd7728C0FSKQJNWar4yKRxNpNKt1owSlw47y57FKAux2QxvQL24Iu18rtw_aem_3kB5Sd2GjpdqjN6zFuIs7w

You want people with no known alternative put in place by you to abandon their means of sustenance just because you have the temerity to say "which we're planning to put in place..." and it made headlines, right?
What is wrong with you people?!
This misdeeds/misyarns will still come back to bite you oooohhhh!

Some people can install water cylinder to treat the water automatically, as the water is coming through the pipes it will be completely clean before getting to the house.

Landinvestments:
Means all the wealthy people have been drinking shit water ?
Oh my goodness ..!!
This is hilarious

Not when you have water treatment plant

these politicians are just killing nigerians because dey want to steal money and mismanage everything.

this is very bad

No.

If it was so there would have been an epidemic of cholera in the region.

And all of us are drinking water from the cemeteries from buried dead bodies.

Na why lekki people no dey even drink the water be that

They buy their water from the mainland

No matter the filtering, the water still stinks

uuzba:
Depends how deep the borehole is.
Shallow (10m deep) has a chance of pollution and germs.
Deeper, (30m) not so likely.

10m and 30m can easily be polluted especially in an overpopulated city like Lagos.

Dude, boreholes of 80m - 150m can be contaminated too through leaching and even biological stuffs like bacterial and virus.

Contamination rate depends on the subsurface geology, groundwater flow direction, sources of the contaminants and some other stuffs.

Kaido:
10m and 30m can easily be polluted especially in an overpopulated city like Lagos.

Dude, boreholes of 80m - 150m can be contaminated too through leaching and even biological stuffs like bacterial and virus.

Contamination rate depends on the subsurface geology, groundwater flow direction, sources of the contaminants and some other stuffs.

Well, thanks for your statement.
In Lekki area, because it is "New", and in the low lying Lagos, 10m depth was enough to get clean water.
That was then O. Like 2000s, 2010's...
Now that people have started to build in close proximity and populate the area, yes that 10m borehole may not
be enough again.
I would say that this is even the more reason that Mr Govt that made that comment, should situp and
do a proper Water Works and Waste water plant for all the homes in that Lekki area
as there has never been any!.
There's only so much that "Local Man" can do.
Govt should do it's part.

wowcatty:
You need to wake up, the only solution the govt have for the swamp is to make people leave which you people will kick against. The govt can’t shut up, cos yo will still complain about the govt not saying anything. Plans come before execution and before people can call the area home. If you build on a land in areas that has no govt basic infrastructure, it means you’re doing off grid living. Swamps are for ecosystems and growing rice, not for human living.

“The only solution govt have for swamp is to make people leave “ you are funny. What is happening in Eko Atlantic, banana island etc is making people leave ?

Who do you think approved lekki ? They have everything to improve drainage for the place . The man even said they have plans for water ! They are just not doing it . See ehn , I will never defend nonsense and will also be among the first to commend good works . The man should keep shut if they are not ready to execute their plans for good water to get to lekki and other places . It is stupid !

As a matter of fact , Wike expanded supply of potable water in abuja within 2 gaddem years ! What is stopping that of lekki and other environs ? After so many years of the same stories year in , year out

uuzba:
Well, thanks for your statement.
In Lekki area, because it is "New", and in the low lying Lagos, 10m depth was enough to get clean water.
That was then O. Like 2000s, 2010's...
Now that people have started to build in close proximity and populate the area, yes that 10m borehole may not
be enough again.
I would say that this is even the more reason that Mr Govt that made that comment, should situp and
do a proper Water Works and Waste water plant for all the homes in that Lekki area
as there has never been any!.
There's only so much that "Local Man" can do.
Govt should do it's part.

This would save lives and also help people.

In many sane countries, it is improper for individuals to sink boreholes sef. The government have failed, we don't have laws here.

ariesbull:
says who...telling lies

Achebe schooled at CKC Onitsha .
Ngozi schooled at Asaba

Both Achebe and Ngozi graduated from University of Ibadan but you chose to be ignorant

fergie001:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5v-F81hNTs


https://punchng.com/video-everyone-digging-borehole-in-lekki-is-probably-drinking-shit-water-lagos-govt/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMABDJjbGNrAwAEK2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEewOd7728C0FSKQJNWar4yKRxNpNKt1owSlw47y57FKAux2QxvQL24Iu18rtw_aem_3kB5Sd2GjpdqjN6zFuIs7w

This life is very funny.......poor man in the village drinks good water while rich men in lekki drinks shit water. Any ways, water na water. The only difference is the shit though disgusting

MightySparrow:
I don't think he's correct. At the dept of borehole, all germs should have been sifted by percolation and leaching. The only problem I think borehole can have is that of elements of the rock's encountered and technical faults if the surface run off leaks in the pipes.

Anyway, the government should provide an alternative

1. If he means actual shit, then the man is so wrong but if he means the water is actually bad then he is right
2. This indict the LASG that after all the taxes they collect from Lekki abi the NEPO guys they let them drink horrible water
3. Did he drop a study to prove his "talk"?
4. Did you know most state government collect taxes for people digging boreholes? Does someone have a recording of this because he can be sued for allowing people make use of a defective resource?

ElevationD:
Shameless man who did not realize that he was indicting his own government. This is not the first occurrence of flooding in Lekki. The raining season just kicked off and will linger until the end of November. They had the whole of last December to June this year to build treatment build plants. Members of the state and FG reside in Lekki, Ajah, Victoria Island and Ikoyi. They see and know the problem. They complain when they are not in power. When they get into power, they neglect the areas and when they are out of power, blame the next leadership. It is the same problem nationwide. Those who reside along the boundaries of Rivers Niger and Benue suffer more at this time. Lives are lost, the little remaining roads are destroyed and farmers lose a lot as either whole harvests are destroyed completely or partially.

Release funds to fix the treatment plants and they would either emblezzle the funds or fix substandard equipments.

Painfully, they do not want to make death penalty the punishment for embezzling public funds. By now many officials would have been on the other side and the remaining ones fear to loot funds.

Imagine this was said by an Igbo man, everywhere would have been on fire by now.

They would have counted it as one of the reasons why Peter Obi can't be president.

Dem for don talk say na IPOB talk am.

Reno Omokiri would have added more words to it and used it to incite the Yorubas against Igbos.

Bayo Onanuga would have said .......
Just imagining.......🤔

And is currently building Nigeria to a loan republic

Aify147:
And tinubu built Lagos o. 😂 😂. Lagos is fine to live in. Many opportunities to make it in life, but the government should address the concerns of the people

Hamachi:
You’re not lying—there’s a lot to be angry about. From Lekki to Maitama, even our so-called "prime" areas still struggle with the basics: no water, no stable light, terrible roads, zero planning. We’ve normalised hardship to the point where fixing basic things feels like a luxury. It’s exhausting.

But before we conclude that “something is wrong with Nigerians,” we need to pause.

Most Nigerians are not lazy, stupid, or unaware. In fact, they’re some of the most hardworking, creative, and resilient people on the planet. The problem isn’t the people—it’s the system that has consistently failed them.

Imagine a country where people dig their own boreholes, install their own solar, build private security, and still have to bribe someone for basic documents. That’s not because they're “ghetto” by nature—it’s because the structure forces individuals to carry the burden of government.

Look at Nigerians abroad: same black skin, different system—yet they thrive. So it’s not about “Black people” or even “Africa” leaving Nigeria behind. It’s about leadership, accountability, and planning. Other African countries like Rwanda, Botswana, and Namibia are making progress because systems are being allowed to work—even if imperfectly.

So yes, the situation is frustrating. But blaming the people is like blaming passengers for a plane crash caused by the pilot.

What we need is radical reform, honest leadership, and citizens who refuse to give up. Until then, we’ll keep seeing potential wasted and ghettos wearing designer roofs.

Hmmm, the leaders are the people too. When I said Nigerians, no one was spared including the ruling class. We are the problem of this country.

Problematic leaders arise from the people. If you remove them and the people are bad, a new breed of problematic leaders take over. Those who can't take it are borrowing money to leave before they end up wasting their entire lives in the name of hope and building.

There's a 4 part series about Nigeria's history from about 1930 to 1970 on YouTube by a channel called Bisi. You should see your country's history in detail you've never seen before and decide for yourself.

The issues that look new are older than our parents.

Nobody drinks tap water in lekki.

I'm sure of that. The chlorine smell alone won't let you drink it or even cook with it.

Landinvestments:
Means all the wealthy people have been drinking shit water ?
Oh my goodness ..!!
This is hilarious

Including the most influencial person in Nigeria abi Africa...... 😂😂😂... Lemme not mention his name before the opps get me.. 😁😁

it is likely in most of lagos

three reasons

no central water supply whether govt or private
no central sewage
poorly regulated construction.


there is supposed to be minimum distance between a borehole and a septic tankl/soakaway

especially as a soakaway lets wastes water into the ground. if you dont have that distance, the waste water from your soakaway is getting into your borehole aquifer, esp if your borehole is shallow. this is worse in waterlogged areas.

plenty of boreholes with foul and smelly water

your average developer today is not deploying a solution that actually traps sewage. add that to the overdevelopment in lekki, where people make plots overcrowded with very little space for septic tank and you have multipe communities effectively discharging sewage into ground

even worse is that they keep busting meth houses in lekki. so in addition to sewage, you have the chemicals used for meth in the ground water

fergie001:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5v-F81hNTs


https://punchng.com/video-everyone-digging-borehole-in-lekki-is-probably-drinking-shit-water-lagos-govt/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMABDJjbGNrAwAEK2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEewOd7728C0FSKQJNWar4yKRxNpNKt1owSlw47y57FKAux2QxvQL24Iu18rtw_aem_3kB5Sd2GjpdqjN6zFuIs7w

Nigeria govt should adopt a system of providing clean and treated water for the people then tax them for it, this is the system most countries run abroad, sinking borehole everywhere is even a big risk that will affect Nigeria in future time

MoneyMan5:
Both Achebe and Ngozi graduated from University of Ibadan but you chose to be ignorant

Leaching is tough at secondary school level and it's unfortunate that many Yoruba kids here don't know what it is and how ground water can be contaminated...this is why no Yoruba secondary schools wins anything in sciences and maths nationally or internationally


For your information Chinua and Ngozi had their secondary schools in East where there is quality Educational foundation




📚 Chinua Achebe

Secondary School: Government College Umuahia (Abia State, Nigeria)

Known as one of the most prestigious secondary schools in colonial Nigeria.

Produced many notable Nigerian writers and intellectuals.

Achebe attended in the 1940s before going on to University College Ibadan.




---

📚 Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Secondary School: Queen’s School, Enugu (formerly Queen’s School, Ibadan)

A top-tier all-girls secondary school in Nigeria.

She attended in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The school later moved from Ibadan to Enugu during the Nigerian Civil War.