‘Pure Water’ To Sell For N20 – ATWAP

• Decries proliferation of substandard table water

BY AHMED TUKUR LAFIA – The Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) in Nasarawa State has decried the proliferation of substandard table water in the market.

Similarly, the Association has warned that if something is not done urgently to stem the rising cost of production materials, the unit cost of Sachet Water, popularly called ‘Pure Water’ could skyrocket to N20 per each pack.

ATWAP made this position known rising from a two day workshop organized for their members operating along the Keffi-Karu axis at Rosewell Hotel in Mararaba area of Nasarawa state.

Addressing participants at the occasion, ATWAP Chairman, Keffi-Karu axis, Alhaji Usman Diggi blamed the proliferation of substandard products on high cost of production materials.

He said it is unfortunate that some producers are now cutting corners, a development that is not healthy for human consumption.

Alhaji Diggi said something urgent needs to be done to ensure the price of table water in the market does not go up astronomically from the current rate of N10 per sachet.

While lamenting that many ATWAP’s members have shut down their factories due high taxes, double taxation and high cost of materials in the market, Diggi said; “The cost of nylon per kilogram used to be N450, but at the moment is has gone up to N1200, which is over 100 percent increase yet a bag of package of table water is sold between 60-70 Naira.

“We are running at a lost which is why some of our members are cutting corners to enable them run the business”

Diggi however assured that the association is doing its best to discourage the practice while appealing to government to come to their aid.

He said the Association, in collaboration with The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) will ensure the production of quality and standard table water across the state.

In his intervention, the Nasarawa State Co-ordinator of NAFDAC, Mr Dadi Nantim Mullak, urged consumers to inform the Agency of any illegal production within their vicinity.

He said aside from the sensitization visits to traditional rulers, NAFDAC officials have been going round the state to ensure producers abide by safety standards and health protocols.