The Cross River State Water Resources Ministry, in collaboration with the Borehole Drillers Association of Nigeria (BODAN), has sealed a borehole under construction at Akai Efa Primary School in Calabar Municipality.
This action follows Governor Bassey Otu’s recent enactment of the State’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Law 2025.
Reasons for sealing the borehole have to do with non-compliance with regulatory standards.
The borehole project, initiated by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), didn’t meet the requirements stipulated in the State’s Water Law 2025.
Other reasons why the borehole project was sealed include the use of substandard materials, like black casings, instead of approved materials in the construction of the project.
Others include a lack of water quality analysis and a lack of drilling Permits, meaning that the contractor failed to secure necessary permits and licenses from the Ministry’s Regulatory Department.
Speaking on the issue, the state commissioner for Water Resources, Barr. Bassey Mensah, who emphasised the importance of adhering to proper protocols for public health, urged the public to familiarise themselves with the new regulations requiring clearance from the WASH Regulatory Department for borehole drilling in the state.
