Kwara State Government Appeals For Curtail Of Excessive Borehole Drilling

Date: 2023-03-13

An urgent appeal has been made to the Ilorin Chapter of the National Association of Hydrogeologists, to join hands with the state government to safeguard the environment from the environmental implications of excessive drilling of boreholes in the state.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. (Mrs.) Risikatullahi Abdulmaliq-Bashir made the appeal in Ilorin, when the Executive Members of the Association paid her a courtesy visit in her office.

The Commissioner said that since she came on board a few months ago in the Ministry, it has been her concern on how to curtail the unregulated drilling of boreholes across the state.

Abdulmaliq-Bashir stressed that a great effort to curb the uncontrolled activities of boreholes drilling in the state will require the collective efforts of both the government and private establishments to reposition the water sector.

She reiterated that if the depth of boreholes drilled in the past used to be 30-45 meters, it has now increased to about 100 and 150 meters by those hired to drill boreholes, thereby posing a serious danger to the environment which calls for concerted efforts of the stakeholders.

The Commissioner urged the association to always seek government's permission before drilling any borehole in any part of the state in order to help protect the environment, lives and property, pointing out that the consequences associated with excessive drilling of boreholes are always enormous and devastating.

Earlier, the Chairman of the association, Mr. Lekan Afolami disclosed that over 80% of Kwarans depend on underground water supply for various utilization, including domestic, agriculture, and industry, etc.

Afolami emphasized that this demand had put much pressure on water usage, thereby necessitating the need for joint partnership to protect the environment for development.

He therefore, called for urgent need for revival of the groundwater development industry in the state through the review of laws establishing agencies like the Kwara State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), in line with international best practices.

The Chairman pledged the association's support to the state government and assured of its readiness to do the needful to surmount the challenges facing the sector.

Source

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