Nigerian Packaged Water Industry Now Generates N8bn Daily

Indications emerged on Tuesday that the packaged water industry in the country now generates N8 billion turnover daily. The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, made the revelation at the presentation of annual report on packaged water in Abuja. The DG explained that the “primary objective of annual packaged water monitoring exercise was to ensure that existing packaged water producers comply strictly with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) without compromising quality and safety of consumers.

“Besides, the agency cannot afford to toy with an industry whose daily turnover is now estimated at N8 billion. This is due to the importance of safety of water for consumption, the increased need to continually and proactively prevent water-borne diseases,” Orhii observed.

He explained that “the outcome of this exercise in the form of generated data would be considered as national data on packaged water quality parameters profiling that will be shared with relevant stakeholders.”

Orhii further expressed concern over quality testing laboratories in the country, warning that the inability of producers to adhere to best practices would compel the agency to wield the big stick.

“The agency will be left with the only option of closing down such erring factories if producers failed to subject their water to quality status profile analysis,” the DG said.

While making his presentation, the consultant for the project and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Emani Global Network Nig. Ltd, Emmanuel Osiegwu, said the report remains a very critical component of national data on water consumption in the country. Osiegwu explained that the new report would now act as a guide to innovations and the need to revamp the water industry. (Thisday)