AGAINST the backdrop of experts' warning that boreholes could induce landslide and pollution of underground water, borehole contractors who are ignorant of the danger still engage in the practice, especially in Lagos suburbs and border towns between Lagos and Ogun State.
Recently, the government, in a move to discourage the practice, issued a directive that any person contemplating sinking a borehole must obtain approval from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. The directive was issued by the minister in charge of the ministry, Sarah Ochekpe.
But The Guardian's investigation revealed that house owners in emerging suburbs in Lagos and border towns between Lagos and Ogun State still sink boreholes in their compounds. Both the diggers and those who engaged them claimed ignorance of the inherent dangers in the practice.
Those interviewed at Ojodu, Magboro, Ikorodu, Okokomaiko, Igando and other areas where more boreholes are being dug, said they were not aware that it can trigger earthquake or lead to contamination of underground water.
Osondu Simon, one of the contractors, said: "I am not aware that boreholes can lead to contamination of underground water or trigger earthquake."
Another driller, who gave his name, simply as Fola, also said he was not aware that it could lead to earthquake.
"I am just hearing that for the first time that borehole can cause earthquake. I started this work (borehole drilling) five years ago, I am not aware and nobody has told me that it can cause earthquake. I have sunk boreholes for people at Lekki, Magodo Housing Estate, Ikeja and other places, none of it had caused earthquake, how come it is now the thing will trigger earthquake? he asked. "I am sure some people must have come up with this unconfirmed claim probably to drive those of us who do this job at cheap price out of the trade," he added.
Asked how much it cost to sink a borehole, Fola replied that he charges between N100,000 and N120,000.
Mrs. Kemi Dauda, a landlady in whose house a borehole was being drilled at Ikorodu suburb, said people indulge in drilling boreholes because of shortage of potable water from the public water works.
"Many of us (Lagosians) resorted to sinking boreholes as alternative sources of pure water supply because there is no pipe borne water in most emerging residential areas," she said adding that "borehole is a major source of drinkable water as supply from the water corporation is grossly inadequate."
"If it is true that too many of it will trigger earthquake, then Lagos will soon begin to experience frequent earthquake as there are over one million boreholes in Lagos metropolis," Mrs. Dauda conjectured.
In a recent report, pipe borne water is said to be a near luxury in Lagos with an estimated population of about 20 million.
According to the report, factors inhibiting efficient water supply to even areas, which have pipe borne water in the state include irregular power supply, water plants operating below capacity, leakage from burst pipes, illegal connections and lack of storage facilities.
A large portion of the population, which has no access to pipe-borne water resorts to buying from water vendors who get their supplies from boreholes or wells.
To address the problem of water shortage in Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fashola said recently that his administration had embarked on the construction of various water works and rehabilitation of the existing ones to ensure that pipe-borne water is available to every home and company.
He cited the construction of additional 15 mini water works spread across the local governments and construction of a dedicated 12.15 MW power plant for constant power supply to Adiyan, Iju and Akute water facilities, which are jointly responsible for about 90 per cent of water supply to the metropolis.
Reacting to the issue, Odiye Jonathan, a geologist, called on government at all levels to prioritise water supply and make more funds available for the construction of water projects.
He declared: "Federal Government should allocate fund for rehabilitation and expansion of state water schemes. At the federal level, the National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy should be reviewed. Also, the national water resources draft bill should be reviewed and passed into law."
According to him, the government should declare a national emergency in the water sector and ensure that individuals have access to 30 litres of safe water per day and within 250 metres.
Earlier, Mr. Shayo Halloway, Group Managing Director, Lagos State Water Corporation, while expressing worry about the looming landslide in Lagos due to indiscriminate drilling of boreholes, said the action has remained one of the dangers facing residents in the state and has contaminated the interconnection of underground water.
He expressed fears that in the next 10 years, there might be man-made earthquake, if every household indulges in sinking borehole without properly covering the abandoned ones.
The Guardian