Waterwell Drillers Association lament rising cost of borehole, offers help to FG amidst economic hardship
By our reporter
The Association of Waterwell Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP) in Nigeria on Friday says it is ready to offer assistance to the President Bola Tinub- led Federal Government in areas of ensuring food security.
The association said this will be done deploying its expertise in groundwater resources on irrigation projects, across the country.
The association also lamented that poor people in Nigeria can no longer afford to drill boreholes because of the rising cost of things, urging 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 triple, 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.
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, but 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 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.
” These are just a few areas where partnership could make a significant impact”, he said.
Addressing participants at the Conference, Ale expressed gratitude to the National and local Organising Committees, for making the event possible.
He also recognised the resource persons who were carefully selected, to share their ideas.
He encouraged all participants to make the most use of the conference, by networking and enjoying their time in the confluence state.
Ale also reflected on the progress AWDROP had made since its establishment, ten years ago.
He noted that while the association’s goal of reaching the top echelon of professional bodies had not been fully achieved, it had 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.
The development expert, stressed the importance of AWDROP’s slogan, “Water is Life,” and how it goes beyond business ventures.
“The lack of potable water, especially in rural areas, poses a significant challenge to many Nigerians.
“AWDROP is committed to alleviating this suffering, even at the expense of their business profits.
” The fact now is that 80% of Nigeria’s water supply comes from boreholes, making it crucial to regulate and improve the exploration and exploitation of this resource, “ he said.
Ale also reiterated AWDROP’s commitment to partnering with governments, organisations, politicians, and individuals, to provide potable water through borehole drilling.