‘Nigeria may soon run out of groundwater with indiscriminate boreholes’

The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) has warned that Nigeria may soon run out of groundwater with the current rate of indiscriminate and unregulated digging of boreholes across the country. The President of NMGS, Prof. Akinade Shadrach Olatunji, who made the submission during a press briefing on its 60th annual International Conference and Exhibition […]

The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) has warned that Nigeria may soon run out of groundwater with the current rate of indiscriminate and unregulated digging of boreholes across the country.

The President of NMGS, Prof. Akinade Shadrach Olatunji, who made the submission during a press briefing on its 60th annual International Conference and Exhibition on Friday, said the menance of every homes wanting to have boreholes was as a result of governments shying away from spending sufficient money on urban water supply schemes have collapsed.

“We are now beginning to see individuals taking their own decision in their hands by drilling boreholes to have water security. But we know, as scientists and geologists, that it is not sustainable. If you punch your house to get a borehole and other neighbours do same, you will soon deplete the groundwater system. So one of the things we are going to be discussing is how resilient is our city to this water shock, to these water challenges.”

Olatunji said the conference would make proposals on what can be done as alternative to having huge complex waterworks that may be too expensive to maintain by the government.

“We can do mini-waterworks spearheaded by the private sector as it is existing in some parts of the country like Lagos. All those private estates have their own water systems in the estates. And they are taxed. So how efficient is it? What is the cost? Some of these things are going to be discussed. Water is actually a serious business. It may not be a business for profit, per se, because it’s actually a social matter. Everybody needs water.”

He also urged states to adopt borehole regulation existing in Oyo State in which approval is done to sink boreholes after a geographical survey has been done in where it be sited to know its environmental impact.

He added that the conference themed ‘Transformation of the Mineral, Energy, Water and Construction Sectors through Innovations’ would hold from February 17 to 21 and aimed at reawakening the consciousness of Nigeria and Nigerians to the centrality of these professions to the attainment of any meaningful development.

“Experts from the energy, solid mineral, oil and gas, construction, water, environment and agriculture sectors are going to be making presentations on cutting edge solutions to the challenges in these sectors. Academics will be presenting their research findings on the various themes and sub themes. The Nigerian nation is looking for solutions and ways to solving the challenges confronted in these sectors.”