Ale told The Guardian in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, that drilling boreholes without experts’ input has social, economic, environmental and health effects on Nigerians.
He cited India as an example of a country where indiscriminate drilling of boreholes has created untold problems.
The geologist said: “I’m speaking as an expert or authority on this. Let me start with one international example. India started like Nigeria, drilling boreholes indiscriminately and the country was coming up with machines. In fact, they were manufacturing the machines and getting water.
“Currently, they need to drill up to about 300 metres before they can get water. That is about 990 feet. At a point, the poor cannot access water. That is the economic impact and effect of drilling indiscriminately.
“Nigeria is at that stage of drilling anyhow without taking into cognizance, effects of such act. There are economic, social, health and environmental effects.
“In Kwara State because I grew up, and schooled in Ilorin, before we used to drill about 40 metres and we got water, but now, you will drill to 180 to 250 metres before you can get water. We have harnessed the first layer of the aquifer, gone to the second and going to the third layer. Very soon, the poor will not be able to have access to that water.
In Ibadan, as far back as 80s and 90s, when I started drilling, it was just 30 metres, which is now 90 feet. Now, people are drilling up to 180 and 120 metres without getting water. All these things are the economic implications because soon even the rich will not be able to afford to drill.
“Let’s try to look at what is happening, especially the economic perspective now that diesel price is going up. So many materials we use for drilling are going up. Unfortunately, the middle class cannot afford to drill, they drill per metre and that will definitely affect in the future.
