From Omobola Odeyemi, Ibadan
Engr Michael Ale
National President of Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), Engr. Michael Ale has advised the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to abolish N30,000 permit on borehole drilling in the state, saying decision will make life more difficult for citizens.
Engr. Ale said on Thursday that government is supposed to make decision that would provide pure and potable water for the citizenry and not create unnecessary hardship on them especially now the citizens are witnessing economic hardship.
Mr. Ale maintained that the cost of diesel has gone up by two hundred percent which had affected the cost of drilling boreholes and many Nigerian without access to safe drinking water had increased to seventy percent as against 55 per cent in 2020.
According to him, “It is no longer news that about 93 million Nigerians will go into poverty line as published by the world bank 2022, as the current energy crises had heated up the life bearing capacity of many Nigerians”.
He said: “The disparaging scenario is mind-boggling because so many sub-nationals had abandoned water projects at the expense of road and other physical infrastructure which look better and more acceptable to people.
“Many Nigerians are left to their faith when it comes to water supply, especially the good people of Oyo State in the South Western part of the country.
“The unfortunate scenario is the issue of taxes and the levies on citizen before they can access the natural resources graciously given by God, because government had failed in their responsibility to provide pipe borne water system.
“When permits are made by the law, they are made to serve as an instrument for safety and not for financial inducement.
“The Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources through the respective consultant has perfected a means to make life unbearable for the citizen through their draconian law, which speculates that before anybody can draw water from underground through borehole drilling, a sum of N30,000 must be coughed out. This is outrageous and will make life unbearable for the good people of the state.
“Even in states where regulations work by the establishment of agency, nobody charges that amount of money in a hard time. This is a call to the Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde to temper justice with mercy and withdraw such law if it has been passed or made public . Or reduce the amount drastically especially to citizen whose salary is just a take home and cannot even drill a well, not to talk of borehole.
“Oyo State has the highest number of drilling rigs hence the need to regulate drilling operation is acceptable but this law should not be seen as a means of making money for the government at all cost.
“Yes the government is looking for a mean of increasing revenue which is a welcome development. Nevertheless, we cannot at the expense of many people whose life may be threatened, deprive them of their right.
“Governor Seyi Makinde through the House of Assembly should first gazette this law, make publicized and then sensitize the Oyo State dweller before implementation.
“In the most suitable condition Engr Seyi Makinde should please call for withdrawal and repealing of this draconian law”.
