[FILES] Groundwater. Photo: BRITANNICA

The President, Association of Waterwell Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners, Michael Ale, has warned that over-extraction of groundwater could cause earthquakes and tremor in the country. This also came as the Federal Government vowed to implement the 2013 National Water Resources Master Plan and United Nations convention.

Ale gave the warning during a two-day national advocacy and sensitisation workshops for the implementation of the 2013 National Water Resources Master Plan and United Nations convention for stakeholders in the Southwest geo-political zone, held at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

He pointed out that water, which is supposed to act as buoyancy for the earth if it is extracted without replacement, posed a danger to society.

Ale said: “Over-extraction of groundwater is hazardous. As you are drawing water, there is what we call buoyancy.

“As soon as you have an extraction, there must be a replacement. It happens all over the world. If water is not replaced, earthquakes, tremors and other hazards can happen.

“We are not an earthquake-prone country, but it can happen. It may not be in the next 20 years. But has anyone thought of tremor in Shaki, Abuja and other places, where there are shaking of the land and building were cracking? That is the way it starts.”

On her part, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, said the programme would among others, enlighten participants on the roles of all stakeholders in the development of water resources.

“You may recall that the 1995 master plan, developed by the ministry in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was the first comprehensive development plan aimed at optimisation of the nation’s water resources.

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