The Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said that the introduction of the groundwater abstraction control scheme in the state would have more positive impact in controlling environmental degradation and regulating potable water for the citizenry.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Chief (Mrs), Yetunde Onanuga, made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting on water abstraction control scheme held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.
The governor noted that groundwater remains a vital commodity globally, considering its importance in the survival of both humans and animals. According to him, 80 per cent of groundwater comes from the private sector and presently no real restriction or control on its extraction.
To this end, government, he said, is now set to take full control and regulate all activities of water extraction in the state. In doing this, activities of operators would be monitored such that it would even guarantee the quality of portable water produced for the peoples’ consumption.
“Anybody can install a borehole anywhere in his land and extract any amount of water at anytime without consideration of its detrimental effects to the society. Groundwater is the largest source of usable, fresh water in the world, but in many parts of the world, especially where surface water supplies are not available, domestic, agricultural and industrial water needs could only be met by using the water beneath the ground,” Amosun said.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Bolaji Oyeleye stated that the importance of water in society especially to human beings cannot be over-emphasised, noting that water is an inseparable nexus with life.
He said it is a recognised fact that the importance of groundwater to meeting the growing water needs was not well appreciated by concerned stakeholders, noting that more efforts were required to make groundwater issues more visible among water resource managers, planners, policy makers, stakeholders and end users.
“It is imperative to organise this stakeholders’ meeting to talk about the control of water extraction, protection of our water with particular focus on the groundwater resources of the state, and there is urgent need to protect and preserve the strategic importance of groundwater resources to safeguard livelihood from future water crisis and enhance water quality and security,” Oyeleye said.
Source: TheNation
