(Commissioner for Water Resources, Obol Moses Osogi. Photo by The Sun nigeria)
The Cross River State Government has declared a total war on illegal borehole drilling and warned that unlicensed operators will now face fines, shutdowns and prosecution.
The warning came from the Commissioner for Water Resources, Obol Moses Osogi, in a press statement on Monday.
Osogi said the government is alarmed by the rising number of unregistered operators who drill boreholes anywhere and break technical standards.
According to him, their activities pose serious dangers to public health, groundwater and the environment.
He declared that the days of running in the water sector without accountability are over.
Under the new enforcement order, every drilling company, consultant, developer and water service provider must be registered and licensed by the Ministry of Water Resources before any drilling, rehabilitation or installation.
The government has also banned any borehole project that has no permit from the Ministry.
The commissioner said operators must now carry out geological checks before drilling, use standard materials, follow proper casing methods and test the water quality before starting use.
They must also hand in drilling logs, pumping test records and completion reports.
Osogi said enforcement teams will be sent across the state to find and prosecute offenders, including those who fake records or put public safety at risk.
He urged residents, schools, hospitals, hotels and estate developers to hire only licensed contractors and ask for proof of registration and water quality certification.
He stressed that the move is not meant to hunt down genuine businesses but to clean up the sector and guarantee safe drinking water for citizens.
In his words, safe water is not negotiable, public health is not optional and compliance is compulsory.
