The Kano State Government has vowed to regulate borehole drilling across the state, describing the indiscriminate practice as “absolute madness” that is depleting underground water reserves.

The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, made this declaration while unveiling 10 new water pumps at the Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant on Saturday.

“You will notice in our towns now that open wells have dried up because the boreholes being drilled around have diverted the underground water. We will not allow this to continue,” Doguwa said.He warned that the government would no longer tolerate the situation where individuals drill multiple boreholes in a single location without regulation.

“A situation where somebody will build many houses in one place and drill a borehole for each of the houses is madness, absolute madness, and we are not going to condone that,” he stated firmly.

Doguwa emphasized that underground water belongs to the state government, which has the legal mandate to regulate and monitor its use.

“It is our water. We have to know what you are using, you have to pay us, and we have to monitor it strictly,” he declared.

The commissioner also warned industries, commercial centers, and individuals against diverting treated water for farming.

He stressed that such activities deprive residents of access to drinking water.

“People are yearning for drinking water, yet some individuals illegally channel treated water to their farms. We are investigating those responsible, and if necessary, we will seize lands found engaging in such practices,” he warned.


https://dailypost.ng/2025/02/16/drilling-borehole-without-regulation-is-bad-practice-kano-commissioner/