Borehole contractors in Oyo State have unanimously declared their refusal to comply with the mandatory “Geophysical Survey Approval Stamping” currently being enforced by COMEG-registered geologists in the state.
According to the contractors, the decision follows repeated unethical practices and administrative breaches by some of the geoscientists charged with carrying out geophysical survey research.
Key issues raised include:
- Client poaching: Several contractors allege that geoscientists have been fraudulently bypassing them to directly approach and secure contracts with their clients, thereby undermining the trust and professional balance within the sector.
- Multiple approvals and payments: Contractors report that the administrative guidelines guiding the process have been flouted several times, leading to situations where multiple approvals are issued for a single survey. This, in turn, has forced contractors to make duplicate payments for the same project.
The contractors emphasized that these recurring irregularities have eroded confidence in the current approval process. They insist that continuing with what they describe as “an illegality” would further burden both contractors and clients financially.
They, therefore, call on the Borehole Regulatory Consultant and the Oyo State Ministry of Environment to urgently review and address the situation.
Speaking on behalf of the contractors, Mr. Ayo Akinyemi affirmed:
“Oyo State borehole contractors will no longer patronize the illegality called Geophysical Survey approval. We stand for transparency, fairness, and professionalism in this industry, and we cannot continue to work under a system that exploits both contractors and the public.”
The contractors reiterated their commitment to providing quality water solutions for the people of Oyo State, while urging regulatory authorities to ensure that due process and ethics are restored to the industry.
