Professor Hyacinth Nkwankwoala, a groundwater specialist at Rivers State University, has expressed concern over the high number of boreholes drilled in Port Harcourt, warning of potential environmental impacts.
Delivering the 113th inaugural lecture titled “Groundwater, the Hidden Wealth for a Sustainable Future,” Professor Nkwankwoala disclosed that over two hundred thousand boreholes have been drilled in the city to date. The Professor of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology cautioned that uncontrolled groundwater extraction could pose serious threats to the environment in the future.
He urged government authorities at all levels to take proactive measures to protect and sustainably manage groundwater resources.
In his remarks, Rivers State University Vice Chancellor, Professor Isaac Zeb-Opiobi, assured that the university’s management would support research efforts focused on water and sanitation issues to address these concerns.
The lecture highlighted the critical importance of groundwater as a vital resource for the city’s future.
