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NESREA to crack down on illegal borehole drilling

By BusinessNews Staff on March 2, 2014

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency has threatened to crack down on illegal borehole drilling in the country, to ensure safe drinking water for the populace.

The agency said borehole drillers should henceforth present drilling reports at the completion of all drilling projects, adding that it would enforce its regulations on National Surface and Ground Water Regulation of 2009.

Director-General of NESREA, Dr. Ngeri Benebo, who gave the directive on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners, Abuja chapter, said her agency would continue to partner with relevant organisations to stop illegal drilling in the country.

Benebo, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Environmental Quality and Technology, Mrs. Ezinwa Ezeka, said that NESREA is ready to partner with AWDROP in regulating the standardisation of water extraction in the country, stressing that there would be no hiding place for quacks.

She said, “NESREA must be informed of any drilling and at the completion, the drilling report must be sent to us; we will not condone any act of illegal drilling activity because it is unfriendly to the environment. All water facilities and infrastructure must be environment-friendly.”

The director-general commended the association for bringing its members together to harmonise their professional talents for delivery of quality service and efficiency in the water business.

The National President of AWDROP, Mr. Michael Ale, said that the association was partnering with NESREA to eradicate quackery in the industry so as to avoid environmental hazards caused by unsafe water production.

[Punch]

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