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Tag: boreholes

  • Religious body builds two boreholes for community

    Religious body builds two boreholes for community

    Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of Catholic Diocese of Pankshin in Plateau has constructed an 8,000-litre solar-powered borehole and another hand-pump bone in Gunji community, Kanke Local Government Area of the state.

    Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Gokum, who inaugurated the project yesterday, said that the gesture was supported by Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN).

    Gokum said that the project, funded by Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), was aimed at addressing the water need of the people of the community.

    The cleric said that the inauguration of the project was part of the activities marking the 10th anniversary of the diocese.

    He said: “Today, our diocese is 10 years old and commissioning of this water project is part of activities for the celebration.

    “This water project is for everybody in the community, not only for Christians or the Catholics. The joy of evangelism is when you address the needs of the people and so, we thank CAFOD and CCFN for the support.”

    Read Also: Ekiti okays N159.5m for 121 boreholes

    Coordinator of JDPC in the diocese, Rev. Fr. Basil Kassam, said that the gesture followed the need assessment conducted in the community in 2021.

    Kassam stated that the gesture was part of the JDPC Water, Sustainable Agriculture and Governance (WASAG) project.

    In addition to the boreholes, he said that commission had also conducted various trainings for selected members of the community.

    The coordinator called on CAFOD and CCFN to continue to support JDPC toward meeting the essential needs of the people.

    The Programme Officer, Good Governance of CCFN, Mr. Jude Akwo, commended JDPC for executing the project within specification, promising to open more areas of collaboration.

    The Village Head of Gunji, Mr Caleb Lukulm, thanked the bishop and JDPC for the gesture, assuring that he would maintain and safeguard the facility from vandalism.

  • Why there was tremor in Abuja, by presidential panel

    MULTIPLE boreholes and the daily extraction of 330,000 metric tonnes of water have been blamed for the tremor that shook some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between September 5 and 8, the panel mandated to look into the matter has said in its report.

    The Presidential Committee also predicted the possibility of more tremors in the country unless the indiscriminate sinking of boreholes was controlled.

    Relying on the results obtained, using the probability of recurrence theory, the committee warned that the probability of recurrence in the near future remained “fairly high in Nigeria”.

    Chairman of the committee and National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Director-General Prof. Seidu Mohammed said that the 110,000 boreholes sunk in Abuja produce 330,000 metric tonnes of water daily.

    Speaking at the submission of the committee’s report to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu in Abuja, Mohammed added that water extraction and recharge imbalance from aquifer was causing hydrogeological instability along the fractures of Abuja.

    The imbalance, he noted, was further caused by about 330,000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily from Abuja boreholes.

    His words: “The latest occurred in September 7th of 2018 in Abuja with Mpape as epicenter. Though these earthquakes may have been of low-magnitudes, it is now certain that earthquake occurrence has become a potential hazard to the nation.

    “The report of the geological, hydrogeological and geotechnical investigations carried out in 1978 by Julius Berger for Abuja identified Mpape as a Shear zone that is weak with several fractures and fault system.

    “Water extraction and recharge imbalance from aquifer is causing hydrogeological instability along the fractures. Currently, there are a 110,000 boreholes within Abuja metropolis with about 330, 000 metric tonnes of water extracted daily. This is not sustainable.

    “In the light of the above, the spots and locations identified and considered as earthquake prone areas in Abuja in particular, and Nigeria in general, need to be further studied and continuously monitored. There is also the need to carry out detailed vulnerability studies of the identified seismic hotspots in Nigeria.

    “Based on the results obtained using the probability of recurrence theory, we confirmed that the probability of recurrence in the very near future is fairly high in Nigeria.

    “There is the need to regulate the exploitation of ground water resources of Abuja Via indiscriminate sinking of boreholes because this has been the primary reason for the stress build up leading to the Abuja tremors of 5th-7th September, 2018.

    “Government should release fund for the training of geophysicist, geologists, engineers, technologists and researchers to participate in earth science research, in order to improve our understanding of Nigerian and West African geophysics and tectonics dynam‘ism. We emphasize that this research has crucial societal ‘value as it is evident in earthquake hazard readiness and mitigation.”

    The minister said the committee would continue its research after the submission. He urged the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to develop seismic building code that can resist tremors in future.

  • Council build boreholes, fixes health centre

    Epe Local Government Chairman Adedoyin Adesanya, has built two boreholes and rehabilitated the health centre.

    Adesanya said this at a function to mark 100 days in office.

    The council, he said, installed glass and aluminum sliding windows to measure up to the state standards.

    He said the council’s Multipurpose Block has been re-roofed to create a conducive atmosphere for the council officials in discharging their duties.

    “Our legislators are now having befitting office furniture to carry out their legislative businesses. On staff welfare, we have been prompt in the payment of non-pensionable staff salaries before the release of monthly allocation by the state government and bonuses. My plan to increase the Internally Generated Revenue was made possible with this synergy and strong alliance,” he said.

    According to him, 250 people comprising artisans, widows and aged people have been empowered. Five physically-challenged persons were given brand new wheel chairs.

    “I sunk boreholes with two new electricity generating sets to support the pumping of the water, in Zumratul Islamiyya Primary and Solomon Memorial Primary Schools, Epe. These have actually brought relief to them.

    “I eradicated illegal garages along our roads by driving all the road unions to the main garage at Aiyetoro. Road side street tradings at Aiyedoto market were put to an end to forestall loss of lives and properties,” he said.

    Adesanya thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his developmental strides in Ep. He also thanked the people of Epe for their supports.

  • Guinness unveils seven boreholes in Cross River State

    Guinness unveils seven boreholes in Cross River State

    Guinness Nigeria Plc has constructed seven hand pump water boreholes in Bebi Community, Obanliku Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State. The boreholes, which will provide more than 7,000 persons with all year-round access to safe drinking water, were unveiled at a commissioning ceremony to mark this year’s ‘World Water Day’.

    The company’s Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, who represented the Managing Director, noted that the company will continue to play a leading role in enhancing access to safe drinking water in Nigeria.

    “The boreholes we are commissioning today are the latest addition to the range of water projects Guinness Nigeria has delivered in states across the country as part of Diageo’s flagship ‘Water of Life’ programme. Since 2007, our ‘Water of Life’ programme has provided clean drinking water to over 10 million people in 18 countries in Africa.  Under the aegis of the ‘Water of Life’ programme in Nigeria, water facilities have been constructed in 35 communities across the country. We are pleased to note that through these water projects, Guinness Nigeria has helped over 1.5 million Nigerians access clean water and ultimately improve their overall health and wellbeing,” he said.

    Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Water, Cross River State Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Dan Ebri, praised Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to initiatives that promote access to safe drinking water in Nigeria. He said: “I commend Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to interventions that tackle the challenge of water scarcity in rural areas especially in Cross River State.

  • Senator provides transformers, boreholes for Kogi constituents

    The Senator representing Kogi Central, Ahmed Ogembe has donated 25 boreholes and six transformers to the five local government areas in the district.

    The boreholes are spread across the five council areas of Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ogorimagongo and Ajaokuta.

    He disclosed that work has reached advanced stages at the Okene multipurpose civic centre.

    Represented by his media aide, Mr. Yemi Duke, during the presentation, he described his achievements in one year as evident that he is determined to give priority to the welfare of the people in his district.

    He said, “It is evident that we have a representative at the senate who is ready to give priority to the welfare of his people.”

    Speaking on the civic centre in Okene, Duke said it was the initiative of the senator, as local government chairman, but which he could not complete before the end of his tenure.

    “The senator initiated the idea of the civic centre to serve as a rallying point for the people of the council area, but could not complete it then, as he won the election to the senate.

    “He therefore decided to complete the project to achieve his dream of bringing the people together under one roof,” he said.

    He listed other his other priority areas to include empowerment with direct impact on the people in view of the current economy recession.

    He thanked the people for their mandate, adding that he is determined to do his best at good representation in the Senate.

  • NDPHC to inaugurate 20,000 solar units, 1,073 boreholes

    The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) is set to inaugurate 20,000 units of Solar Home System (SHS) and 1,073 solar powered boreholes across communities in the North.

    At the launch of SHS Project in Abuja, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NDPHC, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, said: “With the Solar-Home-System initiative, NDPHC will be actively involved in the process of bringing power to rural communities, thereby stimulating social and economic activities in the rural communities located off the grid.”

    According to him, under the first phase of the programme, NDPHC will deploy about 20,000 units of the systems to the under-served rural communities with no access to grid electricity supply. It has deployed 200 in it pilot programme in Wuna.

    He said: “The beneficiaries of the 20,000 units are among the already identified communities of the nineteen (19) Northern States of the federation. The units will be deployed within a period of 12 months.

    “To vigorously drive this initiative, NDPHC engaged Azuri Technologies Group/Azuri Solar Power Nigeria Limited in July 2016. They are to ensure that the first phase of the initiative is achieved within 12 months.”

    Ugbo stated that the solar project was directed at auditing and re-activating 1,073 solar powered boreholes. “Already two of these boreholes are in Wuna Community are the first to be repaired and have provided access to clean water for the community. Villagers in Wuna can now make more efficient use of their time rather than spending hours operating manual pumps,” he said.

    Wuna community, with an estimated population of 800 people, predominantly hosts farmers without access to electricity grid. Before now, they spent money on torchlights, candles, kerosene lamps and generators.

    The NDPHC boss highlighted the achievements of the company, which include the expansion of 36 Transmission Company of Nigeria’s 330kV and 132kV substations across the country and the construction of 1,635Km of 330kv Double Circuit lines; 720km of 132kV Double Circuit lines; 10 new 330kV substations, seven new 132Kv substations,  6,150MVA of 330/132kv transformation capacity, 2,800MVA of 132/33kV transformation capacity; and the provision of over 25,000 complete self protection (CSP) transformers.

    He said in November last year, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, inaugurated the 12-circuit Ikot-Ekpene 330KVA Switching Station and the associated transmissions lines with about 285km completed by the new management.

    “These projects are now assisting in evacuating into the national grid, electricity hitherto stranded in the Eastern Delta,” he added.

    The NDPHC was set up as a fast- track power sector infrastructure development. The 12-circuit Ikot-Ekpene 330KVA Switching Station and associated transmissions lines  and other projects are assisting in evacuating into the national grid, electricity hitherto stranded in the Eastern Delta.

  • Old students donate boreholes to Iganmode Grammar School

    The 95 set of Iganmode Grammar School, Ota in Ogun State, has handed over two boreholes to their alma mater.

    Olayinka Okelana, who is the leader of the old students, said it was a way of giving back to the school that gave them the best of education in their formative years.

    “We made our research and discovered that the students lacked potable water, and had to rely on shylock water vendors who milk them dry, so we decided to give them water.  We also discovered that the school has been partitioned into the junior and senior schools, each with a principal, so we decided to give them two boreholes. We strategically situated one of the boreholes near the kitchen, so that the students will get food made from clean water,” he said.

    He said the project was monitored by members of the set who are engineers to ensure quality.

    He also emphasised their willingness to do more in future to ensure that Iganmode Grammar School maintains its pride of place among secondary schools in Ogun State and Nigeria.

    Responding to the gesture, some of the current  pupils expressed their happiness, adding that they were shocked that people who left the school over 20 years ago could still look back and give the school such huge projects.

     

  • Alaafin donates boreholes to Oyo communities

    Alaafin donates boreholes to Oyo communities

    Four communities in and around the ancient city of Oyo in Oyo State now have clean water to drink thanks largely to the benevolence of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.

    Egged on by his son and Caretaker Chairman Atiba Local Government Area, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the paramount ruler recently donated boreholes to Ilora, Araromi, Akeetan Titun and Molaba communities ostensibly to complement the efforts of the state government at expanding access to clean water, basic social amenities and improving sanitation especially in areas lacking potable water supply.

    The borehole projects, an initiative of Prince Adeniyi was presented to the monarch and the Alaafin consented, leading to the formation of a non-governmental organisation known as Oba Adeyemi /Skimeh Foundation. The foundation comprising of professionals of various callings was tasked with compiling inventory of communities, especially core rural areas that  are in dire need of assistance in terms of infrastructures and human development.  The organization is wholly funded by the monarch.The foundation’s first assignment was the borehole projects which were recently commissioned.

    Commissioning the boreholes, Oba Adeyemi noted that in some communities across the country waste-water and human waste are discharged into local rivers and streams and the teeming impoverished citizens depend on these sources for their domestic water use because they lack the funds to build waste-water treatment plants and modern water distribution infrastructure.

    He said under this condition only those with financial wherewithal could afford to buy some few buckets or jerry-cans of water daily from private water vendors that haul water in rusty tanks that contaminate the water.

    Recognizing the fact that provision of potable water is the responsibility of government, even though this requires huge financial investments, Oba Adeyemi wondered what the Federal Government in particular is doing to meet this challenge especially as the nation’s population continues to grow. “Of what use is a government that cannot provide basic services to the citizens?” he said.

    ‘’A society will starve without food because of water scarcity for agriculture. However, water for domestic use should be of higher quality. Because of inadequate provision of clean water and sanitation services, many people (mostly the poor) in Nigeria are suffering from some form of water related diseases, including diarrhea, cholera, guinea warm, hookworm, and typhoid fever. To worsen the situation, the poor lack access to good healthcare services to tackle these ailments, while the corrupt and powerful politicians could “jet out” of the country to obtain good medical treatment whenever they need one.’’

    To expand access to clean water supply, the paramount ruler advised both federal and state governments to invest heavily on rural and urban water scheme. This, Alaafin asserted, should be part of the NEEDS and poverty alleviation programmes.

    “Lack of access to clean water for domestic use, for farming and other productive purposes, is one of the causes of poverty in the rural communities. It is also among the factors that discourage local and foreign investors. Ensuring access to low cost water supply will improve the people’s welfare; increase their productivity and the wealth of the nation, because a healthy society is a wealthy nation.’’ Oba Adeyemi noted.

    While eulogizing Governor Abiola Ajimobi for his visionary administration and unprecedented devotion to the wellbeing of the people of the state, Oba Adeyemi pledged to use his resources to complement  the present administration’s  transformation agenda, especially on rural development.

    Earlier in his address, the initiator of the Foundation, Prince Adeniyi who thanked the Alaafin for the support, solicited for the peoples’ cooperation with administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

  • 11 schools get Rotary’s boreholes

    No fewer than 11 schools in Ogun and Lagos States have been given motorised boreholes and prototype modern toilets by Rotary International, the global club of philanthropists’ renowned for its humanitarian activities.

    The donation a collaborative effort between Rotary Club Districts 9110 Nigeria and 5360 Canada together with some sub-districts was made to seven Secondary Schools in Lagos State and four in Ogun State.

    The flagship of the project in Lagos was commissioned at Ajara Grammar School Badagry and donated by Ajara Rotary Club where Otunba Yomi Olomofe holds sway as the club’s first class president. The Ogun State flagship was at the Male Comprehensive High School Igbesa near Gateway Polytechnic and donated by Rotary Club of Agbara where Prince Joseph Odogbo is the club president.

    The commissioning ceremony was performed by Rotary International Nigeria 9110 District Governor, Mr. Gbemiga Olowu and Prof (Dr.) Jan Leentvaar, a visiting District Governor of Rotary International (RI) 1590 Netherlands, who was on tour of the Nigerian District on needs assessment and evaluation. His visit coincided with the weeklong commissioning of Rotary empowerment programme.

    At both venues in Badagry and Igbesa, the students, members of staff and school management including notable community chiefs and indigenes could not hide their joy for the timely gesture, pouring encomium on Rotary International for its humanitarian activities globally.

    District Governor Gbemisa Olowu said at both events that considering the population of the schools involved Rotary sees the project as a tip of the and will continue to do more in its service delivery pursuits, globally.

    Mr. Somo Omoniyi, past district governor 9110 said as the project manager, the concept of the water and toilet project was conceived to improve the sanitary conditions in our crowded schools. He said each unit of the project costs N2million, emphasizing that the monies are direct donations from members of the various Rotary Clubs within the project catchment areas.

  • Council sinks five boreholes in cholera-prone areas

    Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State has constructed five boreholes in the cholera-endemic villages where about 10 people were reported dead while many hospitalised.

    Addressing newsmen in Koko town, the council chairman Alhaji Aliyu Buhari Koko said the gesture became necessary considering the scores of people, especially children dying as a result of drinking contaminated water in the villages of Lani, Zaria Kalakala and Danba.

    He said the council succeeded in dealing with the epidemic.

    “Frankly, our people now could attest to the fact that what they are experiencing is a transparent leadership right from state and local government.

    “In the area of agriculture, over 20 trucks of assorted fertilisers were procured by the council and distributed to farmers at subsidised rates during the last cropping season.”

    He said agriculture and health were accorded utmost priority and would continue to be given maximum attention with a view to uplifting the living standard of the citizens.

    “I must confess that all that we were able to achieve was as a result of the support and co-operation we received from the state governor, Alhaji Sa’idu Usman Dakingari,” he said.