NAN-AE-4
Water
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, March 7, 2017 (NAN) Mr Frank Uzoma, President of Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria (BODAN) says the association has commenced the implementation of the National Drilling Code of Practice to check quackery and indiscriminate drilling of boreholes.
Uzoma made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said that the code of practice specified the minimum requirements for drillers, supervising personnel, and equipment to ensure cost effective construction of water well.
Uzoma said that it was the duty of the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, to provide licences for construction of water wells.
According to him, the development of groundwater is one of the sources of interventions to attain water supply for all Nigerians.
He stressed the need for stiffer penalties to check quackery in the system.
The president urged Nigerians to patronise only registered borehole drillers, saying this was the only way the country could do away with unsystematic drilling of boreholes.
He said the association was committed to work in line with the `Change Mantra` of President Muhammadu Buhari`s administration to improve on the dignity of labour in the sector.
Uzoma thanked the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, for his efforts to improve the sector as well as ensure that Nigerians enjoyed quality and potable water.
“Water is life; it serves as the basic human resource for drinking, farming, cooking and various sanitary activities.
“That is why we need all stakeholders to partner with us to standardise water activities in the country,’’ he said.
He urged the government to support the professional body in its efforts to ensure that ethics and professionalism are achieved.
“The vision is to standardise the borehole industry in Nigeria and to be the leading ground water association in Africa through making positive impact in the drilling sector.
“The association also wishes to control and regulate borehole business in order to preserve, conserve and sustain the industry for incoming professionals and investors.’’
He called for increased funding by all tiers of government in the provision of portable water to Nigerians.
According to him, better funding in the provision of water is the only way Nigeria will meet the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals before 2030. (NAN)
TAK/LAB/MO
===========Edited by Lydia Beshel/Morayo Omolade