The president Association of Well Drillers and Rig Owners Practitioners (AWDROP), Michael Ale has said the association is positioned to sustain a robust partnership with the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians and to the socio- economic growth and development of the economy.
Ale made this statement when the association paid a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Muaazu Abdulkadir in Abuja to strengthen connectivity, enhance businesses, bolster citizen’s livelihood and promote professionalism in the drilling sector in Nigeria.
Ale while reeling out achievements of the association, he made it known that the association is ready to support an initiative called Agro- Rural Water Supply Support Initiative (ARUWASSI) to restore professionalism and dignity in drilling sector in Nigeria.
He noted that AWDROP has also helped the indigenous companies to stand up to their responsibility through professional confidences, line jobs of over 500 created as well as 2000 indirect jobs under the support of the Federal Government.
Under this ARUWASSI Project Implementation, Ale said over 1,000 boreholes had been drilled in which about 80-85% of such drilling were done in the Rural setting where water is so scarce at a much reduced and affordable subsidized cost; with not recourse to any exorbitance.
This according to him has reduced economic loss to the Rural dwellers who need water but can’t afford to drill a Water borehole, but resolve to any available sources.
He said: “ARRUWASI has helped to improve livelihood in terms of access to safe drinking water in Rural area.
Agriculture and Rural Development is one of the building blocks of sustainable development. Goal 6 of the SDGs specifically which addresses the issue on equitable access to water but yet many people do not have access to clean water, a reason our association in partnership with FMARD is positioned to address the underlying issues”.
Ale commended the President Muhammadu Buhari for his support in ensuring that the yearly budget for support of master drillers in Nigeria is realized, saying this has assisted to bring back the lost glory within the industry, generated employment amongst the youth in rural areas and boosted the entire growth of the economy.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development commended the leadership of the association, recognizing it as a very important sector in the economy, and promised stronger collaboration that will leads to impactful developmental drive in the rural area with AWDROP, which is based on the Partnership on the Agro- Rural Water Supply Support Initiative, ARUWASSI.
