ASEPA Moves to Enforce Mandatory Drilling Permits, Warns Against Unauthorised Borehole and Septic Operations in Abia

The Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has issued a formal directive ordering all individuals, households, and commercial operators intending to carry out borehole or septic tank drilling within the state to obtain the mandatory regulatory permit exclusively from the agency, cautioning that failure to comply with the directive constitutes a breach of extant environmental law.

The announcement, issued by ASEPA management and addressed to the general public, invokes the authority of the Abia Basic Environmental Laws 2004, as amended, under which the agency holds sole jurisdiction over the issuance of borehole and septic drilling permits for both private and commercial purposes across the state.

In the directive, ASEPA specified that all permit applications must be processed in person at its offices in Aba and Umuahia, the state’s two principal administrative and commercial centres.

The agency’s primary processing office is situated at No. 9 Ikot-Ekpene Road, Aba, directly opposite Aba Power, by Bata Junction where applicants are expected to present themselves and initiate the documentation process.

The agency gave no indication that online or remote permit processing is currently available, making a physical visit to either office a mandatory first step for prospective applicants.

Beyond the permit application itself, ASEPA issued a firm directive on the mode of payment, stipulating that all fees must be remitted exclusively into the Abia State Treasury Single Account (TSA) using only the payment codes officially assigned by the agency.

The instruction effectively rules out cash payments to individuals, agents, or third-party intermediaries, a measure widely understood as a safeguard against touting, extortion, and revenue diversion that have historically plagued permit processes in Nigerian state agencies.

Applicants are advised to collect the appropriate TSA payment code directly from ASEPA before initiating any financial transaction.

Environmental and Public Health Implications

The enforcement push comes amid growing concerns over the proliferation of unregulated drilling activities across Abia’s urban and peri-urban communities. Public health practitioners have long warned that unsupervised borehole and septic installations risk contaminating groundwater sources, weakening soil integrity in densely populated neighbourhoods, and exposing communities to preventable health hazards.

By centralising permit authority within ASEPA and mandating compliance with the 2004 environmental law framework, the state government signals a renewed commitment to structured environmental governance, particularly as Abia State continues its broader infrastructure modernisation drive under Governor Alex Otti.

The directive applies equally to private homeowners, real estate developers, hospitality businesses, and any commercial operator requiring water extraction or waste disposal infrastructure on their premises.

Members of the public seeking further clarification or wishing to commence the permit process may contact the agency on the following lines:

📞 08025977907 📞 07081037464

ASEPA has urged full public cooperation, noting that proper documentation not only ensures legal compliance but also protects property owners from liability in the event of environmental disputes or future regulatory audits.