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Tag: borehole drillers

  • Lagos insists on permit for borehole drillers

    Lagos insists on permit for borehole drillers

    Lagos State has reiterated its position on regulatory permits for borehole drillers in the state.

    This, it said, is to prevent depletion of groundwater resources, ensure water governance, management and appropriate regulations.

    At an  engagement by Ministry of Environment and Water Resources and Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, (LASWARCO), Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said it is important to realise the benefits of clean water.

    Wahab, represented by Permanent Secretary (Office of Drainage Services), Mahmood Adegbite, added: “The first thing is to understand we need to treat ground water as a rare resource. It is an important resource that we need to manage. So, we call on drillers, to work with the government.

    ‘‘You need a licence, we want to know who is doing what and where, it’s based on class, if you’re in class A, this is what you can do.”

    Read Also: Oyo borehole drillers get representatives

    Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Funke Adepoju, noted this will ensure that regulations are adhered to and enforcement strengthened for compliance to safeguard the environment.

    “The meeting is to make operators familiar with government’s plans. LASWARCO is not out to punish anyone, but to ensure compliance with regulatory provisions.

    “A driller needs a licence to operate and whoever is having commercial borehole needs a permit. After drilling, we need to have a borehole completion report for planning…’’

    Olufemi Idowu from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Olufemi Idowu, described the engagement as opportunity to take decisions and a trajectory to promote development.  

    Speaking on the socio-economic impact of unregulated groundwater abstraction in a sedimentary terrain, Prof. Idowu said ‘if groundwater extraction is not regulated with the increasing population, the water quantity will diminish’.

  • Borehole drillers seek speedy passage of water resources bill

    The Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria has urged the National Assembly to pass the Water Resources Management Bill into law to stimulate effective management of the country’s water resources.

    Its President, Mr Francis Uzoma, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    He said the bill, when passed and assented to by President Mohammadu Buhari, would facilitate efforts to prioritise issues in the water resources sector via sound policies and programmes.

    He said that media reports appeared to have neglected the salient provisions of the bill which was particularly aimed at fast-tracking the development, management and efficient use of the nation’s water resources, in line with global best practices.

    Uzoma, however, appealed to all stakeholders and Nigerians to have faith in the bill, saying that was for the good of the nation.

    He said the attention of the association had been drawn to the erroneous and distorted analyses of the National Water Resources Bill, which was before the Senate, as it had been passed by the House of Representatives.

    “The bill will create room for the private sector to come on board; it will also create employment opportunities for the people.

    “The National Water Resources Bill is consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Land Use Act, and it should not be politicised.

    “We are appealing to all Nigerians to have faith in the bill, as it was for the good of the nation,’’ he added.

    NAN recalls that the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, once urged Nigerians and lawmakers to stop politicising the water resources bill, saying its benefits were enormous and for the public good.

    He said that the overall objective of the bill was geared toward the efficient management of the water resources sector for the economic development of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens.

    “The existing laws in the sector include the Water Resources Act, Cap W2 LFN 2004, the River Basin Development Authority Act, Cap R9 LFN 2004, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Establishment) Act, Cap N1100A.LFN, 2004 and National Water Resources Institute Act, Cap N83 LFN 2004.

    “However, these laws are being re-enacted with necessary modifications in the new bill so as to actualise current global trends and best practices in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM),’’ he said.

    Adamu noted that the National Water Resources Bill, which was drafted in 2006, had passed through series of consultations among stakeholders up to 2008, adding, however, that since that time, successive administrations had failed to give it priority attention until now.

    NAN reports that the bill provides for professional and efficient management of all surface water and groundwater for the use of all the citizens.

    The Federal Government intends to ensure, through the provisions of the proposed law, that “the water resources of the nation are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all persons, in accordance with its constitutional mandate’’.

    NAN notes that the bill provides for the creation of an enabling environment for public and private sector investment. It also provides for capacity building processes to foster good governance, while establishing a water use and licensing framework to ensure sustainable finance for the water sector.

  • Borehole drillers set to hike cost

    Borehole drillers set to hike cost

    The Association of Water Drillers and Rig Owners Practitioners (AWDROP) has warned that costs of drilling borehole will go up due to high exchange rate used for  procuring drilling equipment and other materials.

    It has therefore strengthened its task force to monitor and supervise drilling activities in the country which will in turn reduce haphazard drilling of boreholes.

    Its National President, Mr. Michael Ale, in a statement explained that regulation of borehole practice which involve standardisation, licensing, accreditation, training and enforcements of code of practice on anyone interested in drilling borehole in Nigeria are all within the ambit of the group.

    Ale said: ”What is the justification in increasing  borehole materials but decrease in the cost of borehole by respective clients? For financial sustainability and efficient borehole usage, it is important that Nigerians become price wise and not be deceived with low pricing of borehole project. Many boreholes drilled in Nigeria by non-professionals have contaminated our precious underground resources, thus resulting in illness for many innocent Nigerians.”

    Ale urged the Federal Government to immediately invest in water quality survey involving testing of wells and boreholes.

    Ale commended the Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu for the launch of the PEWASH an instrument that will give all Nigerians access to safe drinking water.

    He said: “Failure to coordinate activities of borehole drilling in Nigeria through non-implementation of regulatory instrument, encouraged uncoordinated pricing and use of substandard materials to the disadvantage of the unsuspecting customers. The Federal Ministry of Water Resources, with the assistance of many stakeholders, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has put up code of practice for borehole drilling in Nigeria and the document remains the valid guiding code for drilling companies in the country.

    “AWDROP accepted the adoption of the implementation of the code for drilling companies, thus setting standard for their operation.

    “The implementation of code of practice for all borehole operators was important for sustainable quality water provision in Nigeria. There is the need to partner with all stakeholders involved in drilling practices to imbibe the culture and practice of good design and safety during operation.”

  • Commission, borehole drillers seek safer environment

    Members of the Association of Water Well Drilling Rig owners and Practitioners (AWDROP) have pledged to cooperate with the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC) to curb indiscriminate drilling of boreholes.

    The association President, Michael Ale, who led members of his executives to the Commission in Lagos, reiterated the need to standardise the sector, because Nigerians deserve the best in terms of water consumption.

    He stated that 97 per cent of fresh water is found under the ground and can only be accessed through drilling. He then called for effective patronage of services of borehole drilling professional contractors. This, according to him, would help the country meet the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LSWRC, Mrs. Tanwa Koya, while soliciting co-operation of the association, said it is part of the commission’s mandate to regulate borehole drilling activities in the state, taking into cognizance people’s health and environmental safety.

    Koya, whose agency is saddled with ensuring proper delivery of water supply and sewerage (waste water management services) in Lagos State, said effective collaboration between both parties would ensure that the sector is fully sanitised, adding that more of such collaborations would be pursued for the commission to achieve its mandate.

  • Minister warns borehole drillers

    The Federal Government yesterday warned borehole drillers across the federation to embrace the code of practice to ensure provision of potable ground water for Nigerians.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, said this in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the opening of an international workshop on Standardising Borehole Drilling Activities in Nigeria organised by the Association of Waterwell Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP) held at Kakanfo Inn.

    Ochekpe, who was represented by a Director in the ministry, Adetunji Idowu, urged borehole drilling practitioners to initiative a monitoring programme to find members who are not complying with the existing standards.

    The minister said: “For a borehole to serve its intended purpose it is expected that drilling and construction activities are carried out according to established standards and code.

    “Following strictly the code of practice for water well construction, borehole drilling activities will be standardised in Nigeria, regulations on drilling activities will take place and contractors not following construction standards will be ruled out of business.”