According to the association, the  partnership through office of Sustainable Development Goals, SDG is to rehabilitate, reposition and make all borehole facilities to be more functional, provide new ones and enhance their sustainability.

Addressing newsmen during a press briefing on Monday in Ibadan, AWDROP President, Engr. Michael Ale described the project as a brilliant initiative that will promote sustainable development in provision of potable water for inhabitants in the state.

Ale added that the Project ‘ABIOLA’ is borne out of the association’s program, National Borehole Rejuvenation and Rehabilitation Program (NABORE) which incidentally is in line with the Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, PEWASH program of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

Commending the governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for the privilege given to float the initiative noted that the project’s name, ABIOLA is not a sentiment but a coincidence to bring about positive development in the state.

In his words: “Project ABIOLA is an acronym, ‘All Boreholes In Oyo Live Again’, derived from an initiative between Office of Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs Oyo State Chapter and Association of Waterwell Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners, AWDROP.

“The initiative is meant to address many issues and vices that have to do with borehole abandonment in Oyo State. A lot of investments had gone into these abandoned boreholes in the state like designing, fixture and management of boreholes. It has been normal occurrences everywhere that as soon as boreholes are commissioned, they start to develope faults after some while and the issue usually is, lack of management to make these boreholes continually function.

“And to government digged boreholes, people believe that they are less concerned and therefore leave these facilities uncatered for. This project thus allows partnership between the state government and private individuals to enhance its sustainability to further avoid situation where thieves and vandals destroy, cart away and make the facilities go moribund.

“AWDROP learnt a lot of money has been sunk in these moribund projects. This made the association at the national level came up with the idea to partner with SDG’s office of Oyo State Government to bring back these moribund boreholes to life again, to develop new infrastructural facilities and to inculcate habit of maintenance in the beneficiaries. This is to make them know that the project is neither for the state government nor office of the SDG but for them as beneficiaries.

“These boreholes will be in public places like markets, churches, motor parks and other public places where there are so many people. The head of these communities where these facilities are provided will be in charge of these facilities. The community heads will also help in areas of finding suitable locations to provide these facilities and their executions.

“We are also putting sustainable measure by commercializing the facilities through collection of stipends from the consumers. This will be done by attaching toilet facilities. When you are using toilets with water facilities, whoever managing that, will be earning income and therefore creating job for the person and invariably, the facilities will be maintained. Also, we have our numbers on the billboards, in case there are problems. We can be contacted and we will be there to fix the problems. That is why we are partnering with the state government.

“Above all, the project is meant to create employment through these infrastructural facilities. I have examples of infrastructures worth N10m while some worth N2 or N3m. If you give that to somebody, these can solve the person’s problem than to have such money staying idle on moribund projects.

“By all these strategies in place, it tells that our project’s name, ABIOLA is meant to bring back to life all boreholes in Oyo State. The name is not by sentiment but by coincidence and the coincidence is for good purpose”, the AWDROP boss explained.

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The AWDROP boss recently in Ibadan at a stakeholders’ National Symposium on borehole drilling regulation and Practitioners’ licensing in Nigeria themed: “Nigeria water resources bill; implication on borehole drilling contractors”, appealed to government ministries and agencies to respect the Executive order of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo.

He stressed that the Vice President, in his acting capacity on 18th May 2017 solicited support for local content in public procurement where “the Federal Government directed its Ministries, Departments and Agencies to grant preference to Manufacturers of locally made goods and local service providers in their procurement of goods and services”.

Ale on behalf of the association also called for speedy passage of the water resources Bill as this will curb the current indiscriminate drilling which has led to uncoordinated operations in the country.

Also speaking at the symposium, the General Officer commanding 2 Division of Nigerian Army, Major Gen. CM Abraham lauded the Association of water well Drillers and Rig Owners Practitioners for their effort in repositioning the water sector.

According to him, the coming together of the association to discuss the Nigeria Water Resources Bill and the implication on borehole drilling is a proactive measure that will create awareness among practitioners and lead to healthy input into the bill.

While commending the efforts of the National assembly, he charged them to ensure the speedy passage of the bill as this will ensure that the water resources is protected, managed and conserved in a sustainable and equitable manner for the benefit of all.

“This  symposium is not only important but also timely because the nation is facing imminent danger of underground water pollution from activities of unprofessional drilling companies most of which are not licenced to drill . If this act is not curbed by appropriate legislation and control, the country may face serious challenges in the near future” he added.

The Army Chief also assured AWDROP of their continuous support saying” the Nigeria Army having recognised water security as a vital component of National security, is positioning itself to be a major player in the enhancement of water resources”.

Also in his keynote address, the Executive Director Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, Mr Reuben Habu spoke on Water Regulation and its implication on drilling practitioners and the general public.

Present at the one day symposium are representatives to Executive Governor of Oyo State, Isaac Ishola, the state Commissioner for Environment; National Water Resource Institute (NWRI) Kaduna, Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC) Abuja, Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) Abuja, Nigeria Army 2nd Mechanized Division, Ibadan , Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State Command; Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps. (NSCDC); India driller Association and AWDROP State Chapters’ representatives from the 6 geopolitical zones.

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