By Samuel Atuluku
Kogi State Government has assured of its partnership with the Association of Water well Drilling, Rig owners and Practitioners, AWDROP, towards the provision of potable water for the citizens.
The State Commissioner of Water Resources, Engineer Yahaya Farouk gave the assurance while declaring open, the seventh National Borehole Practitioners conference in Lokoja.
Kogi State Government which was represented by the Commissioner of water Resources, Engineer Yahaya Farouk noted that partnership with the body was essential in the realization of set objectives in the water sub sector.
Engineer Yahaya said the programmes of the Association were lofty, urging them to sustain the good works.
The Commissioner also assured that government of Ahmed Usman Ododo was poised to change the narrative by supporting the body in all spheres and wished members a fruitful deliberations.
Also speaking, National President of AWDROP, Michael Oludare Ale said the three day event has participants drawn from twenty seven states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Michael Oludare emphasized the need for government to pay greater attention to how resources are being explored and exploited, noting that eighty percent of communicable diseases are water borne.
He urged members to show more commitment in their duties, adding that improvement of potable water should be a collective responsibility.
In a good will message, Doctor Jamila Bala Ahmed said joint monitoring by water professionals indicate that sixty percent of Nigerians depend on ground water.
Goodwill messages were delivered by individuals and bodies, including the General Manager, Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency, Momoh Dauda who was represented by Engineer Bayode Oladipo.
The conference which continues tomorrow, has the theme borehole project sustainability in unpredictable economic situation.
