…says borehole now out of reach of poor Nigerians, urges govt to rescue situation
The Association of Waterwell Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP) in Nigeria, has offered to assist President Bola Tinubu led Federal Government in areas of ensuring food security by deploying their expertise in groundwater resources on irrigation projects across the country.
The association also decried that the poor in Nigeria can no longer afford to drill boreholes because of the rising cost of things and urged government to rescue the situation.
National President of the Association and development Expert, Mr. Micheal Ale, made the remarks on Friday during the association‘s 7th National Borehole Practitioners Conference and Congress held at Reverton Hotel in Kogi State.
He said: “The cost of drilling boreholes had increased from the usual price more than tripple, which is beyond the reach of the middle class not to talk of the poor. Government should rise to the occasion and assist the poor.”
The event, organized by AWDROP, is a biannual gathering that aims at addressing the challenges of borehole sustainability in Nigeria’s current economic climate.
Ale also assured the FG that his association was ready to partner with government on other areas, especially in tackling water borne diseases, to ensure meaningful growth and development.
Mr. Ale who highlighted the imperative of hiring technocrats such as members of AWDROP to assist on borehole sustainability right from the conceptualization stage to execution, expressed concerns over the humongous amount of money government usually spend on borehole projects with little or no significant impact on the financial and social well-being of the communities they serve.
Noting that failure to fully partner with AWDROP in such areas accounts for the insignificant output, he therefore assured that the alarming rate of water-related diseases recorded in hospitals across the country, would drastically reduce if FG partners with his team in handling several water related projects.
Ale itemized areas of needed partnership with government to include technical and financial regulation within the sector, monitoring and supervision of projects, collecting data on dysfunctional facilities, and exploring water for irrigation to enhance food security, he added that: ” These are just a few areas where partnership could make a significant impact.
Addressing participants at the Conference, Mr. Ale expressed gratitude to the National and Local Organizing Committees for making the event possible.
He also recognized the resource persons who were carefully selected to share their ideas while encouraging all participants to make the most of the conference by networking and enjoying their time in the confluence state.
Mr. Ale also reflected on the progress AWDROP has made since its establishment ten years ago noting that while the association’s goal of reaching the top echelon of professional bodies has not been fully achieved, it has established itself as a strong ally of governments and other agencies at all levels in the areas of exploring and managing water resources.
He added that AWDROP now has a presence in 27 states of Nigeria, including the federal capital territory.
Mr. Ale also reiterated AWDROP’s commitment to partnering with governments, organizations, politicians, and individuals to provide potable water through borehole drilling.