Water drilling professionals have raised concerns over the increasing depth required to access groundwater in Nigeria, warning that the trend signals growing pressure on water resources and lapses in industry regulation.
The concerns were highlighted on Tuesday, during the inauguration of the Ogun State executives of the Association of Waterwell Drillers, Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), held at the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Hall, Lukosi, Abeokuta.
The event, themed “Strengthening the Water Industry Through Visionary Leadership,” brought together stakeholders, including representatives of the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, industry experts and development partners.
In his keynote address titled “Professionalising the Borehole Drilling Industry in Nigeria,” a retired Permanent Secretary in the Ogun State Civil Service, Mr. Ipiniwa, attributed the growing depth of groundwater to the activities of foreign rig operators.
He noted that while boreholes previously produced water at depths of 40 to 70 metres, current realities now require drilling as deep as 100 to 150 metres.
Ipiniwa called for the enforcement of a standardised code of conduct in the sector, urging regulatory agencies and stakeholders to strengthen oversight to curb unprofessional practices.
Also speaking, a Professor of Geophysics at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Biodun Badmus, identified poor borehole completion processes as a major cause of post-drilling failures.
Presenting a paper titled “Borehole Failure: Technical Defect or Natural Disaster?” Badmus dismissed claims that borehole drilling could trigger earthquakes, insisting that most failures stem from technical deficiencies.
“The failure of boreholes in most cases is not natural but largely due to technical deficiencies, especially during the completion stage,” he said.
In his remarks, the re-elected Chairman of AWDROP in Ogun State, Mr. Olufemi Gbolahan, charged the newly inaugurated executives to brace for the task of repositioning the industry.
He stressed the need to raise operational standards and ensure compliance with best practices across the sector.
“We have a lot of ground to cover, and this administration must focus on raising standards and ensuring compliance across board,” Gbolahan said.
The inauguration was attended by national executives of the association led by its President, Prof. Okunlola, members of the Board of Trustees and representatives from various state chapters.
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