A lecturer with the Rivers State University (RSU), Prof Hyacinth Nwankwoala, has frowned at the half-hazard drilling of water boreholes in the state by those he described as ‘artisans and quacks’.
Prof Nwankwoala, who stated this during the 113 inaugural lecture of the university in Port Harcourt, regretted the failure of the state government to regulate the sector was responsible for the menace found in the field.
Nwankwoala, a Professor of Applied Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, called on the state government to, as a matter of urgency, commence the registration of the Association of Boreholes Drillers (ABD) and train them and asked that they submit boreholes data to government data bank to be used for planning.
“Half hazard and incessant drilling of boreholes in Rivers State is posing serious danger to consumers of boreholes drilling water and if not regulated could cause challenges to the environment,” he said.
He described the inaugural lecture as an academic festival and used the opportunity to call on the new professors to proffer solution to the challenges facing the society.
Delivering the lecture titled, “Groundwater: The hidden wealth for a sustainable future”, Nwankwoala said groundwater plays a key role for the future sustainability.