Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has sounded the alarm over the indiscriminate drilling of boreholes in homes, warning that the long-term consequences could be severe.
Speaking during a visit by the management of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA) in celebration of World Water Day, Obasanjo attributed the growing reliance on boreholes, particularly in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to the neglect of the Oyan Dam project, which was initiated under his military administration in 1977.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo stressed that without effective water resource management, achieving food sufficiency and security would remain an uphill battle.
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“Devastating Consequences Await”
The former president pointed out that due to the failure of the dam to fulfill its intended role, residents have resorted to sinking boreholes at an alarming rate. He cautioned that while the immediate benefits of borehole drilling are evident, the long-term impact on groundwater levels could be disastrous.
“We cannot overstate the importance of water in human life. That’s why we say, ‘Water has no enemy,’” Obasanjo remarked.
“As Head of State in 1977, I recognized the need for strategic water management as part of efforts to achieve food security. We established 11 river basins, including the Lake Chad Basin, to ensure efficient irrigation and agricultural sustainability.”
He warned that excessive reliance on rain-fed agriculture is unreliable due to unpredictable weather patterns. “Rain may come too early or too late, and we may face droughts or floods, all of which have severe implications for food production and national food security.”
Obasanjo lamented that the Oyan Dam, originally designed to generate electricity and supply water to Ogun and Lagos states, has failed to serve its purpose due to years of neglect.
“The dam has the potential to generate 9 megawatts of electricity, which would significantly boost power supply. But instead of harnessing this potential, we have ignored it while people continue to drill boreholes, depleting underground water reserves,” he said.
He urged experts to assess the long-term effects of this depletion. “We don’t know how long we have before the consequences become irreversible, but geologists can help determine the timeline,” he added.
Federal Government’s Efforts in Water Management
O-ORBDA Managing Director Adedeji Ashiru commended Obasanjo’s foresight in establishing the river basins, noting that his vision for sustainable water management predated the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by decades.
Ashiru revealed that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, is committed to revitalizing river basins to support food security. In 2024, the government funded the construction of seven dams in the Southwest, with a proposed budget of ₦45 billion for irrigation projects in 2025.
He assured that efforts are being intensified to ensure river basins fulfill their role in flood control and agricultural productivity.
As Nigeria grapples with water scarcity and food security challenges, Obasanjo’s warning serves as a crucial reminder that sustainable water management must remain a top national priority.
