Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over the widespread drilling of boreholes, particularly in Abeokuta, Ogun State, warning that the practice could have serious long-term effects.
He raised the issue when he received officials from the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, led by Managing Director Adedeji Ashiru, during a visit to mark World Water Day.
Obasanjo explained that the increasing reliance on boreholes in Abeokuta resulted from the neglect of the Oyan Dam project, which was initiated by his administration in 1977.
The dam, originally built to supply water and generate electricity for Ogun and Lagos States, has not fulfilled its purpose due to years of poor management and neglect.
As a result, residents turned to digging boreholes to meet their water needs, a situation Obasanjo fears could have unknown and possibly severe consequences in the future.
The former president emphasized the need to stop wasting water resources and focus on better water management.
He linked effective water usage to achieving food security, explaining that depending solely on rain-fed agriculture is unreliable due to the unpredictability of weather conditions like droughts, floods, or delayed rainfall.
This, he said, was why his administration had created 11 river basins, including the Oyan Dam, to promote irrigation and year-round farming.
Obasanjo also pointed out that the Oyan Dam was originally designed to generate up to 9 megawatts of electricity, which could have helped improve power supply in the area if properly maintained.
Unfortunately, the turbine intended for this purpose has also been neglected.
He warned that the continuous drilling of boreholes could lower the water table, which might lead to problems in the future.
While the exact impact remains uncertain, Obasanjo suggested that experts, particularly geologists, should examine the situation and determine how soon these negative effects might emerge.
According to Obasanjo, addressing the water supply issues and reviving the Oyan Dam’s original purpose could help mitigate the challenges faced by residents and reduce their dependence on boreholes, which may be depleting underground water resources faster than expected.
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