Table water producers seek legislation against illegal production
The Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP) said it is engaging with the House of Representatives committee on Food Drugs Administration and Control responsible for ensuring Food Safety on a legislative framework on maintaining standards and professionalism in the water industry in Nigeria. The immediate past President of the association Dr. Clementina Chinwe […]
Bottled water
The Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP) said it is engaging with the House of Representatives committee on Food Drugs Administration and Control responsible for ensuring Food Safety on a legislative framework on maintaining standards and professionalism in the water industry in Nigeria.
The immediate past President of the association Dr. Clementina Chinwe Ativie who said this in Kano also called for stronger collaboration between the association and government regulators to curb illegal water production and safeguard public health.
Speaking during the association’s National Convention held in Kano, Ativie said executive members of the association are scheduled to meet the lawmakers to continue with the dialogue on the association’s long-standing ambition of providing quality and affordable water to the Nigerian populace.
She said ATWAP is working with regulatory agencies like National Agency for Foods Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Environmental Standards Enforcement Agency, (NESREA) to ensure table water producers including sachet water producers maintain high standards to safeguard public health through constant monitoring and supervision.
“We ensure that water production is done correctly. If water is not properly treated and packaged, it becomes a serious public health risk,” she said.
Ativie identified illegal production as one of the major challenges confronting the industry, noting that some operators produce water without proper registration and, in some cases, use counterfeit registration numbers of regulatory agencies.
“There are individuals producing water illegally, using counterfeit NAFDAC numbers and operating outside regulatory oversight,” she said.
“We are not a statutory enforcement agency. Producers have the right not to join the association, and that limits our ability to fully police the industry,” she explained.
Reflecting on her eight-year tenure, Ativie highlighted the association’s role, achievements and persistent challenges in Nigeria’s water production industry.
She explained that the association represents table water producers across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, including at zonal and local government levels.
While widely known for regulating sachet water, popularly called “pure water,” it also covers bottled water producers.
She said the association plays a critical role in coordinating production activities and ensuring compliance with safety standards to prevent public health hazards.
Director-General, National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye represented by Kano State coordinator of the agency, Kassim Ibrahim said because of the importance the agency attaches to water, any outlet producing water without registration will have the outlet sealed off immediately noting that water is life.
The DG enjoined the producers to routinely maintain hygienic environment and meet regulatory requirements.
“Our goal is the same — to ensure every water producer in Nigeria adheres to the required standards,” she said, stressing that maintaining uniform standards nationwide is essential to protect consumers and sustain the credibility of the industry.
The Kano convention marked a new chapter for the association, as members elected fresh leadership to steer it through regulatory, operational and public health challenges in Nigeria’s expanding table water sector.