NAN-AE-1
Permit
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Feb. 6, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC) has warned illegal borehole drillers to obtain permit for their activities or face prosecution.
Mr Maroof Lawal, the commission’s acting Director, Corporate Support, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that illegal drillers who failed to comply were liable to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of 500,000 or both, upon conviction.
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“ With the launching and signing of the regulation now, it is now mandatory for any borehole driller to be properly registered.
“Secondly, drillers must get their permit otherwise, the penalty is N500, 000 or six months’ imprisonment.
“For now, we will increase the advocacy at least nationwide for people to make sure that they adhere strictly to the new law because all over the country, people have engaged in uncontrolled erection of boreholes.
“So we are looking forward to a more decent erection of boreholes around the country.”
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Lawal said the regulation would address the protection, conservation, control and equitable development of the environment to ensure environmental integrity (which is about healthy air, clean water, native plants and animals as well as reasonable mobility).
He stated that the major challenges in the water sector are poor data-base management, disjointed sectoral development and uncoordinated water resources management.
The director, therefore, urged all stakeholders to sustain partnerships in the water resources management and development sector to ensure socio-economic growth and sustenance of the environment.
NAN recalls that the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, recently inaugurated a policy document with the title `Water Use and License Regulation’.
The document is aimed at promoting proper management of the nation’s water resources.
NAN reports that rapid population growth in Nigeria is increasing the demand for clean water for both industrial and domestic use. (NAN)
TAK/OSA/YEE
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim
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