Table water producers in Ondo State have hinted at hiking prices of table and sachet water in the state.
The water producers said the hike in prices was due to incessant increases in the costs of raw materials and equipment for water production.
State Chairman of the Association of Table Water Processors (ATWAP), Engr. Stephen Bolawole, disclosed this while addressing stakeholders at one-day day sensitization seminar organised for all water producers in Akure South, Akure North, Idanre, and Ifedore Local Government Areas of the state.
Bolawole said the upward review of prices was inevitable to enable them to remain in business and save many factories from folding up.
Bolawole stated that the hyper- inflation being experienced in the country was forcing their members out of business saying many water producers could no longer cope with the maintenance of their equipment and sundry expenses.
He noted that despite the increment in the costs of production, a bag of sachet water remained N150, making them producing at a loss.
According to him, “Diesel which used to sell for N130 has skyrocketed to N800 and above, Toyota Dyner Vehicle commonly used for water distribution which was earlier sold for N1.6m has jumped to N6m and above, apart from its costly spare parts for the maintenance. A kilogram of nylon used is now selling for N1, 750 against its old price of N520, and packing nylon initially sold for N2, 800 has risen to #7, 500 per bundle.
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State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Pharmacist Benu Phillips, cautioned the water producers to ensure adherence to quality control and lay down standards for water production to ensure safe water for human consumption.
Benu warned them against any sharp practices capable of jeopardising the health of the public.
He said any producer who failed to strictly comply with the set operational standards would be severely sanctioned.
The state NAFDAC coordinator explained that the agency has the mandate to ensure compliance with laid down operational standards as any sharp practice in water production process portends a great danger to human health and could lead to epidemics and deaths of the people.
Ondo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Ezekiel SonAllah, stressed the need for the producers to ensure that their staff, especially drivers adhere strictly to the road safety tips by consistently checking various components of their vehicles before putting them on roads.
The seminar with the theme ‘The Best Global Practices In Producing Safe and Hygienic Water For Consumption,’ was organised by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Ondo State Vehicle Inspection Services.