By Bisola Adeyemo
The federal government has announced the number of boreholes drilled in the country.
Speaking during the commemoration of World Water Day in Abuja, on Tuesday, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu said the federal government has drilled 362 boreholes and rehabilitated 190 others across the 36 states of the federation.
Speaking further, Adamu said groundwater has a huge impact on the Nigerian economy because it is widely used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial supplies.
The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack said an estimated 60% of the Nigerian population depend on groundwater for their main drinking source.
According to him, the Ministry through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has drilled and instrumented over 70 groundwater monitoring.
“The importance of groundwater to health was brought to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic which started 2 years ago.
“As you are aware, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended proper handwashing exercise as a non-pharmaceutical measure to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This practice requires the availability of adequate and safe water.
“Therefore, the Ministry in its WASH emergency response to (COVID-19) drilled 286 new Boreholes Schemes and rehabilitated 190 old Borehole Schemes in the 36 States of Nigeria and the FCT. This activity made the invisible resource visible and available to the Nigerian populace as a means of curbing the COVID-19 infections. Also, in 2021, 76 boreholes were constructed under the 2021.
“It is important to stress that groundwater is not an infinite resource; It could be depleted when more water is abstracted from Aquifers than is being recharged by rain or snow,’ he said.
Speaking on poor management of groundwater, the minister said that this is due to the invisible nature of groundwater, as it is frequently undervalued, insufficiently, understood, and consequently poorly managed.
Additionally, special studies such as saline intrusion into freshwater aquifers are being carried out in order to better understand and sufficiently safeguard this apparently invisible but critical resource.
Also, a national groundwater assessment strategy he said is being developed to chart a clear direction in the management of the nation’s groundwater resource, consolidate on the gains so far achieved and give a clear direction in the management of the nation’s groundwater resource, thus making it more visible.
“Nigeria has over 400 dams of various sizes impounding over 40.6 billion cubic meters of water contributing to ground water resource or about 200 billion cubic meters. To further sustainably manage this resource, the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission has the mandate to issue licenses for water abstraction alter carrying out all due alligence.
“The Commission has issued water use licenses to 72 water users most of which are drilling contractors.
“This action would contribute to making the invisible resource visible to the common man without drying it up. Also, under the Strategic Action Plan (SAP), the following achievements have been recorded from 2020 to December 2021: Gazetted Water use Regulation 2016 (amended 2020); Water Source Protection Policy; Collaboration with Relevant Stakeholders; Water Use Regulation and Enforcement activities have been intensified through site Assessment Visits and identification of more Bulk Water Users.” The minister said.
