The Association of Waterwell Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP ) on Thursday blamed government for failure to enact law to regulate drilling activities in the country.
The President of the association, Engr. Michael Ale stated this at a stakeholders round table interactive session on sustainable access to Water and Sanitation held in Sheraton hotel, Lagos with the theme: “Nexus between Wash and Business.
According to Ale, this has resulted to haphazard drilling which is inimical to sustainability of underground water resources as the most vulnerable resources that has been highly abused.
He said: “Borehole drilling business is getting the required attention and it’s time to put the right peg in the right hole.
“Many operators in the country have not upgraded their skill to fit into the fourth industrial revolution because of the discouragement from the government by not regulating the sector. The drilling sector is not attractive for finance, hence it makes it difficult for most operators to move in the direction of financial stability”.
AWDROP president therefore appreciated the organiser of the event and use the opportunity to ask the Government to make do with their commitment to stop indiscriminate drilling by making it compulsory that every company engage in borehole drilling is licensed as published.
“With enough sensitization of the implication of engaging the quack or unlicensed drilling company in the borehole drilling contract job, Nigeria will unlock the potential of the Groundwater since almost 70% of Nigeria rely on this Groundwater Resources which makes it most vulnerable resources highly abused”, Ale stated.
Also speaking at the event which was jointly organised by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group and Water Aid Nigeria, the Executive Director, Engr Magashir Bashir stressed on the need for cooperate private operators to be responsible in their operation.
