From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP) has threatened to shut down operations, hike sachet and bottled water prices due to the high cost of production and sources of raw materials.
It explained that the temporary closure would enable operators clean the system and change some production lines before the actual increase.
ATWAP’s Chairman in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Okpanachi Mohammed Akwuh, stated this yesterday in Abuja, at a 2-day capacity building for members with the theme: “Quality product, sustainability and climate change in an unstable economy.’
He said: “We have a problem of power and high cost of raw materials. I think the outcome of our sales go by the economy of the country.
“The increase is long overdue. We are truly looking into that for an increase and Nigerians should expect that.
“Speaking of an increase, after this training, we are going to shutdown for a while so that we can actually clean the system and change some production lines before the increase.
“We will give every consumer value for their money. There is need for an increment because of production cost and sources of raw materials.
“Every material is very high at this time. There is no factory that does not use diesel. And even with NEPA, we pay high tariff. Yes, water is from God. But what we are giving is a purified water.”
Earlier, ATWAP’s National President, Clementina Atvie, sought the intervention of the Federal problem, warning that a sachet of water would be sold at N50.
“Water producers are just doing what we call charity business. Because as at now if you input all your cost and put it to what you are going to sell the product, Nigerians will be buying sachet of water for N50.
“Inflation is what is killing 99% of water producers. A lot of our factories are shut. Many of our members cannot cope. That is why we are asking the federal government to come to our aid,” she said.
She disclosed that ATWAP had declared war against quacks and unregistered members, adding that those caught had be reported to the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for prosecution.
“Anybody that starts production today, whether registered with NAFDAC or not we know because our drivers sell water and bring into from the environment.
“Based on that, we must make sure you do the right thing. We will visit you and tell you what you are supposed to do.
“And if you are not doing and you have not registered we will take it up from there and report to NAFDAC,” she said.
Atvie stated that the training was organised to teach members on how to produce quality water and to make sure that most production waste which is not biodegradable are turned into another kind of wealth.
According to her, the training would take place across the country, adding that the confidence repose on them by consumers would be sustained.
She said: “We are moving self regulation as an association. ATWAP is over 22 years in existence in Nigeria.
“Basically, we are into water production. Since inception we make sure that we sustain that confidence people have repose on us.
“Based on that, ATWAP came up with a self-regulation policy and training to make our people aware and get used to means of giving Nigerians potable water.
“That is why we decided to go into this capacity building. This is a national programme.
“We are going to do it in all the 36 states and that is what we have started today. We are training our members not only on how to produce quality and wholesome water, we are also training them on costing to eliminate quacks.
“99% of our members do not even know the cost of our production. So, when you make them to know that, they will now put the best pricing affordably and making us to still remain in business because water is life. Again, with the way things are going, you can see climate change.
“To mitigate environmental problems, we have also decided to use this training to teach our members the roles they are supposed to play in our environment by making sure that most of our production waste which is not biodegradable are turned into another kind of wealth that can be used to enhance our environment.”