Be ready to report fake sachet water producers in your area as end in sight for producers of fake sachet water in Nigeria

THE end of the road appears to have come for producers of fake, substandard and unregistered producers of packaged water sachets popularly known as “pure water” as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control, NAFDAC,

in collaboration with Emani Global Network, EGNL, is carrying out on- the- spot analysis of packaged water in Rivers state.

The activity is being conducted with mini mobile laboratory to ascertain the quality and standard of packaged water sold to the public.

Chief Executive Officer of ENGL, Mr. Emmanuel Osiegbu, a renowned international consultant, stated that the exercise is geared towards safeguarding public health due to unsatisfactory results of NAFDAC laboratory analyses of some registered packaged water in the country.

“Laboratory analysis of packaged water by NAFDAC has shown that some of the brands are below standard without the right pH, lead content and other parameters. This exercise will find out and address all the shortcomings observed and proffer solutions where necessary,” Osiegbu stated.

He said that most packaged water producers lack mini lab in their facilities to ascertain the quality of water being produced adding that the exercise has the backing of the National Assembly’s Committee on Health and will be conducted throughout the federation.

The exercise is to be annually conducted in South-South states of Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River among other states in the country.

NAFDAC Coordinator in Rivers State, Mrs. Mercy Ndukwe, said that the annual water monitoring exercise is mandatory for all packaged water products in Nigeria. She admonished producers of sachet and bottle water in Rivers state to participate in the exercise to ensure that safe and wholesome water is given out to the public.

“All packaged water producers (about 400) in Rivers State are expected to take part in this exercise and this will exempt them from going to public analysts during the renewal of their products.

“Sanctions will be meted out to those whose products are not analysed which may include shutting down of the affected water factory and or withdrawal of NAFDAC license”, Ndukwe warned.

She said that “NAFDAC has been waging a relentless war against unwholesome water producers in the state and will not hesitate to clamp down on any producer who compromises standards.”

The Chairman of the Association of Table Water Producers, ATWAP,. Rivers State chapter, Engr. Alex Erikosima lauded the initiative and urged his members to cooperate with NAFDAC to make the exercise a huge success. He implored water producers in the state to maintain proper GMP and adhere to standards to prevent water borne diseases.

By Chioma Obinna