By Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The Nigerian Association of Hydrogeologists (NAH) has warned of impending water crisis by 2020 because of poor management of groundwater basins.
The President of the association, Mr. Ehidiamhen Olumese, disclosed this at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital while speaking with journalists after the association’s National Executive Meeting (NEC).
Olumese said efforts to ameliorate such crisis might include acquisition of both hydrological and hydrogeological data and systematic study of basin aquifers.
He however, suggested that updating and full implementation of the National Water Resources Master Plan are now imperative.
He said this development has called for a strong financial commitment and prudent management of available resources such as State Ministry of Water Resources (RUWATSAN) and support to River Basin Development Authority to achieve their mandate based on set targets that can be evaluated periodically.
“The groundwater level in going down and we are giving water projects to quacksÂ
“Indiscriminate sinking of boreholes are not helping the matter, we must become aware of this and do something.
“Projects are executed without professional counselling, hydrogeologists are not consulted.
“The Lake Chad is shrinking and this may soon be causing loss of jobs†he said
Olumese lamented that the government is inconsistent with the River Basin and if it shows commitment, Nigeria can feed Africa.
The NAH President disclosed that the association’s 29th Annual Conference, tagged Ilorin 2017 would hold in Ilorin from November 5 to November 10.
