World Water Day: Obasanjo decries incessant borehole drilling in Abeokuta

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised alarm over water borehole drilling in homes, warning that the repercussions of such actions could be devastating.

Speaking in commemoration of World Water Day, Obasanjo lamented the incessant construction of boreholes, particularly in Abeokuta, the state capital.

He attributed this trend to the failure of subsequent administrations to sustain the Oyan dam project, which his military administration initiated in 1977.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former president issued this warning when the management and staff of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORDA), led by the Managing Director, Adedeji Ashiru, visited him for the World Water Day celebration on Sunday.

Obasanjo called for the elimination of water resource wastage, stressing that effective water management is essential for achieving food sufficiency and security.

He noted that, due to the failure of the Oyan Dam project, Abeokuta residents have resorted to digging boreholes everywhere to source water, which could have devastating consequences in the future.

He stated, “We cannot deemphasize the importance or usefulness of water to human life, and that is why we say water has no enemy.”

Obasanjo recalled that as Military Head of State in 1977, he recognised the need for strategic water management as part of Nigeria’s food sufficiency and security efforts.

He created 11 river basins, including Lake Chad, to ensure effective water management for agriculture.

He said, “If we only depend on rain-fed agriculture, we will definitely not get it right. Rain may come too early or too late, there may be droughts or floods, all of which have a significant effect on food production and security.”

He explained that managing water for agriculture is a key measure for achieving food security, noting that all river basins were equipped with irrigation facilities to ensure year-round farming.

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Obasanjo pointed out that the Oyan Dam was originally built to generate power and supply water to Ogun and Lagos states, but 48 years later, it has failed to live up to its purpose.

He said that the dam has the capacity to generate 9 megawatts of electricity, which, if utilised, could significantly improve power supply and reduce the country’s energy challenges.

“Oyan Dam was built to supply water for Abeokuta and Lagos, but it has been neglected, just like the turbine for power supply,” he said. “The water supply for Abeokuta is absent, and instead, we continue to dig boreholes, causing the water level to decrease. This will have future repercussions. How long it will last, I don’t know, but geologists can assess how fast the repercussions will come.”

Earlier, the Managing Director of O-ORDA, Dr. Ashiru, said they decided to visit Obasanjo to acknowledge his foresight in creating the 11 river basins 48 years ago.

He noted that the vision for effective water management and sustainability, which Obasanjo had in 1977, was only recognized by the United Nations about ten years ago with the introduction of Sustainable Development Goal six, focusing on sanitation and clean water.

Ashiru also said that under his leadership, the O-ORDA has worked tirelessly to realise the vision of the founding fathers of the river basins, including boosting agricultural production and controlling flooding.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to ensuring that these river basins play active roles in the nation’s food security efforts.

He revealed that the federal government supported the Ogun-Osun River Basin last year with the construction of seven dams across the Southwest and allocated N45 billion in the 2025 budget to drive irrigation farming.