By Genesis Ogiri, Abuja
The Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), has commenced the sensitisation of its members on the need to continue to adhere to global best practices and Good Manufacturing Practices.
The two day Capacity building and enlightenment Campaigned held at the prestigious Nigeria National Merit Award Abuja over the weekend by NAFDAC/ SON to ensure quality and hygienic process of manufacturing.
The training entails the important of good and healthy production, Bookkeeping and sales recording. Producers were charged to have a good record of their production.
Tuesday NEWSWAY media reports that water producers had in no small measure contributed to the containment of water-borne diseases by adhering to global Manufacturing practices assured the public that they (producers) would continue to strive to keep to standards.
National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) has called for improved GMP in water production facilities, adding that the demand became necessary in view of unforseen cholera outbreak.
NAFDAC noted that the negative practices were on the storage of water products.“We have noticed that packaged water products are exposed to excruciating sun or kept on bare floors usually in front of shops and stalls from where they are sold to end users/consumers.
“This affects the taste of the packaged water which is not healthy for consumers as the products could be easily contaminated.
While addressing the journalists, the FCT chapter chairman, Mohammed Akwuh opkanachi said that the decision to hold this year training is to equip the association with the innovative skills of manufacturing.
"He maintained that National Agency for foods and Drugs Administration and Control , and Standard organization of Nigeria want us to improve on the new innovative technology .
The chairman also decried the recent rising cost of production of packaged water, adding that the various items needed for the production had witnessed an increase in price recently.
Honourable Mohammed said that it is becoming very difficult for its members to maintain production and meet up with public or customer demand under the current high cost of production.
He said producers face challenges such as the high cost of diesel, lack of power as well as high cost of production, stressing that the price of table water sales reflects the situation of the country.
Okpanachi noted that the current price of dollars and materials for producing the table waters were high hence, it was an everyday experience for increase of price of materials .
“We are appealing to our esteemed customers and general public that very soon the price might be reviewed and there will certainly be a slight adjustment to current price per unit,” he added.
Hon. Okpanachi charged the participants to take whatever their leant here today serious as the Agencies has promised to take a routine inspection on the outcome of the training.
"He pleaded with the members to implement the knowledge acquired from this program in their respective Zones to avoid been caught by the NAFDAC, or else no one should call on him for intervention, he stressed!
He Said “Water is important to everybody and water is life, the cost of maintenance, and production costs keep going up everyday. In order to satisfy our numerous customers and ensure they have drinkable water on their table, the only option open to us is to increase the price. We will try our best to give out purified water at all costs.
"He assured Nigerians that they should expect that the producers of table water would give them hygienic water and value for their money.
Mrs. Blessing Okafor who spoke on the increase in price 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.
“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.”
ATWAP noted that the decision to increase the price was not easy, but alleged that government had done nothing to assist water producers in alleviating regulating cost of material.
They however, appealed to their numerous customers to bear and reason with the association in view of the present economic crisis in Nigeria, praying for better times ahead.
