From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Cross River State Government is set to intensify the implementation and enforcement of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) regulations governing groundwater development and water supply services across the state.
The government has also warned borehole service providers and other stakeholders to comply with established standards or face sanctions.
The directive was contained in a press statement issued by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Obol Moses Osogi, who said the government was concerned about the increasing rate of indiscriminate borehole drilling, the activities of unregistered operators and widespread violations of technical standards in the water sector.
According to the Commissioner, the proliferation of poorly regulated borehole projects poses significant threats to public health, environmental sustainability, groundwater resources and the overall welfare of citizens.
He noted that while access to safe and clean water remains a fundamental right, such access can only be guaranteed when water infrastructure is developed and managed in line with approved regulatory requirements.
“The era of operating without accountability in the water sector is over,” Osogi declared.
He added that the Ministry of Water Resources, in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies and stakeholders, would intensify monitoring, inspections, compliance verification and enforcement activities across the state.
According to him, under the new enforcement guidelines, all borehole drilling companies, consultants, developers, institutions and water service providers are required to obtain registration and licensing from the Ministry of Water Resources before engaging in drilling, rehabilitation, water installation or related services.
The government also directed that no borehole project should commence without obtaining the necessary permit or authorisation from the designated regulatory authority within the ministry.
As part of efforts to ensure quality and safety, the ministry mandated that all proposed borehole projects must undergo geophysical and geological investigations before drilling.
Operators are also required to comply with approved drilling methods, use standard materials, follow proper well casing and grouting procedures, and conduct compulsory water quality testing before any borehole is commissioned for public use.
In addition, service providers must maintain and submit drilling logs, pumping test records, completion reports and other technical documentation required by the government.
The Commissioner further stressed the importance of environmental protection, directing operators to adopt environmentally responsible drilling practices and ensure the safe disposal of drilling waste to prevent groundwater contamination and damage to surrounding ecosystems.
The government also appealed to residents, schools, hospitals, hotels, industries, estate developers and community organisations to patronise only licensed and approved borehole contractors.
Citizens were also encouraged to request evidence of registration, permits and water quality certification before engaging any service provider.
Obol Osogi warned that enforcement teams would be deployed across the state to identify and prosecute violators.
He said individuals or organisations found drilling boreholes without authorisation, operating without registration, breaching technical standards, falsifying records or endangering public water safety would face penalties, including fines, closure of operations and prosecution where necessary.
The Commissioner explained that the enforcement exercise was not designed to hinder legitimate businesses but to sanitise the sector, enhance professionalism, protect consumers, preserve groundwater resources and guarantee access to safe drinking water.
Reaffirming the state’s commitment to national WASH objectives and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation, Osogi said meaningful progress could only be achieved through collective responsibility, strict compliance and effective enforcement.
He urged borehole operators to comply with the regulations, stressing that adherence to WASH standards was now mandatory.
“Safe water is not negotiable. Public health is not optional. Compliance is mandatory,” the Commissioner said.