A drilling expert, Mr. Michael Ale has raised an alarm over the prevalence of indiscriminate drilling activities by quacks and its dangers to the environment.
He has cautioned that Nigeria risks massive environmental degradation if the charade of unprofessional drilling activities continues without regulatory intervention by the government.
He also urged the federal and state governments to renew the fight against indiscriminate drilling by self-acclaimed drillers who fail to procure licenses from relevant government agencies.
Mr. Ale’s call is coming on the heels of Monday’s arrest of an Indian drilling firm, which caused a stir in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State, on alleged indiscriminate drilling.
The firm was allegedly found to be unlicensed before its arrest was effected by the state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Idowu Oyeleke.
Three staff members of the Indian drilling company were reportedly apprehended for alleged indiscriminate drilling at the Sabo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, by the state’s Environmental Taskforce.
The drilling firm’s activities which led to heavy early morning gridlock on that axis was said to have incurred public wrath and outcry leading to an urgent SOS call to the Commissioner who promptly swung into action.
Responding further, Ale lauded the commissioner’s prompt response to a public outcry and called for more of such proactive measures in regulating all local businesses in the country.
“Local Businesses in Nigeria cannot grow or thrive without proper regulations. Banks cannot support an unregulated business.
“The Environment is affected and the operators who clamour for not being regulated risk not growing.
“Regulation is to protect the poor and the customer for standard operative procedure and sustainability of their borehole and provide value for money.
“Nigerians should realize that what is not regulated cannot be termed standard hence they cannot complain about shoddy jobs.
“Subnational governments should please pass their respective laws to regulate Water Well drilling and execute such laws to help local operators and enforce standards. It should not be about the collection of money alone but technical regulation.
“One day, a borehole drilling machine can block the government house or the entrance of Aso rock, preventing government officials from performing constitutional assignments, thereby causing security threat to the sovereignty of the Nation.
