Soun Commissions 20 Boreholes to Boost Water Access in Ogbomoso

The Soun of Ogbomosoland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, has commissioned 20 manual boreholes across communities in Ogbomoso to improve access to clean and safe drinking water. The projects are part of a broader plan to drill 50 boreholes across the area.
The boreholes were commissioned in communities across Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, and Surulere local government areas of Oyo State. Several communities in Ogbomoso South, including Papa Abede, Gomal area, Sawmill Adeleke, Oja Jango, California, Irewolede, Aiyelomo, Oke Alapata, Olopemarun, Arowomole, Akata, Yaku, Baale Yaku, and Odo-Koto, benefited from the initiative. In Ogbomoso North, areas such as Bolanta, Sabo, Okelerin, Iyana Ogojo, and Ewe Compound also received boreholes, while Gambari was the sole beneficiary in Surulere Local Government Area at this stage.
The project was facilitated by a friend of the monarch, Mr. Abiodun Ponnle, an indigene of Osogbo, Osun State, who undertook the borehole installations in memory of his late mother, Engineer Comfort Olufunke Ponnle.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Oba Olaoye urged residents to properly maintain and protect the boreholes, describing them as community-owned assets. He recalled earlier efforts to revive the Ogbomoso Water Works project, which was disrupted by vandalism, leading to the decision to pursue borehole drilling as a sustainable alternative.
The monarch disclosed that, in addition to the 20 manual boreholes and four motorised ones already completed, more projects are underway with the support of friends and partners. Motorised boreholes are planned for communities such as Jabata, Iwofin, Oloo, and Ajaawa, with some already completed and others nearing completion.
According to Rev. Peter Olaleye, the monarch’s Special Assistant on Media and Community Relations, the borehole initiative is expected to extend to all five local government areas within Ogbomosoland.
Oba Olaoye reaffirmed his commitment to improving access to potable water, describing it as a key priority of his reign despite challenges such as vandalism and sabotage that have previously hindered water infrastructure projects in the area.