There will be a water crisis in Nigeria by 2020, hydrologists warn
The Nigerian Association of Hydrologists (NAH), has warned of an impending water crisis by 2020 because of the poor management of groundwater basins.
The association president’s, Ehidiamhen Olumese gave the warning on Sunday in Ilorin while addressing newsmen after the association’s National Executive Meeting (NEC).
Olumese said the impending crisis could be avoided by the acquisition of hydrological data and a systematic study of basin aquifers.
He said the updating and full implementation of the National Water Resources Master Plan was now imperative.
He said this development also called for a strong financial commitment and the prudent management of available resources by state governments and support to River Basin Development Authorities to achieve their mandate based on set targets that could be evaluated periodically.
“The groundwater level is going down and we are giving water projects to quacks.
“Indiscriminate sinking of boreholes is not helping the matter. We must become aware of this and do something.
“Projects are executed without professional counselling as hydrogeologists are not consulted.
“The Lake Chad is shrinking and this may soon be causing loss of jobs,” Olumese said.
He said the government’s actions are inconsistent with its policy on River Basins, adding with proper policies and commitment. Nigeria could feed Africa through its river basins.
