The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said it has registered over 1530 packaged water factories between January and August 2021.
It also disclosed that within the period, it has shut down 27 package water industries over non-compliance to rules and regulations on quality assurance.
The Director of Press and Public relations, NAFDAC, Jimoh Abubakar disclosed these at an interview at the sideline of the 2021 National Convention of Association for Table Water Producers Of Nigeria (ATWAP) in Abuja.
Abubakar who represented the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said, the package water industry is big business, it is a multi-billion naira business that NAFDAC is taking seriously because water is life.
“Water is very important. It is a very serious business. Apart from economic benefits, the health benefits are overwhelming and when you get it right, you would have gained a lot in terms of NAFDAC contribution to guarantee an overall health care development system.
“That’s why NAFDAC under the leadership of Prof Adeyeye ensures that there is an absolute commitment to the issue of quality and standard.
“Just imagine a situation where there is a mishap in the water industry. Everybody takes water every day but there are people in the last three months who have not even taken any tablets or any medication. Water is life and to that extent, we don’t joke with the issue of water as we take it very seriously.
“It is an ongoing process and we are here to partner with the industry and to tell them NAFDAC cannot do it alone because they need to come to it and also to try to help us fish out the erring ones because they know those ones that don’t comply in their midst.
“They also know the illegal outfits that are operating. We are going to continue to work together to ensure we clean and sanitize the package water industry to ensure that when you take water, then you are good to go and close your eyes and believe that everything has been done with due diligence because NAFDAC number we give is very sacrosanct.
“It is a scientific number. It is not just any number like a motor licence number you give vehicles. It is a scientific number that if talk about NAFDAC number, it gives a scene of authority that NAFDAC has done its due diligence on what you want to buy.
“We are going to use this opportunity to further reinforce the extant rules and regulations. We have noticed some anomalies in the past with some packaged water producers and we have also given them support in some plan directives and some of them are currently working with them.
“As you are aware, the issue of regulation is an ongoing process they need to comply with. We need to continue to point the way for them just like people that are under your cover are subjected to order, they need to continue to comply with the ethics of the profession,” Adeyeye said.
The National President of ATWAP, Clementina Ativie, in her address said Government alone cannot adequately supply required address without recourse to notifying regulatory agencies for proper documentation and traceability,
She further said, working in collaboration with ATWAP and her structure by all regulatory Agencies is the only way the Agencies can achieve their desired goals in reaching out to all producers nationwide for compliance with regulatory guidelines.
“ATWAP, however, in complementing the efforts of the regulatory Agencies especially NAFDAC under the leadership of Prof Mojisola Adeyeye in her resolve to leaving no stone unturned in making sure that Nigerians are given wholesome water have decided to look inwards by checkmating ourselves, observing self-monitoring and regulation in other to flush out quacks and illegal producers in the industry.
“Furthermore, we have commenced awareness campaigns flagged off at the FCT during our last North Central meeting on September 22nd, 2021. We have also drawn out a timetable to train our members nationwide regularly on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for water quality and Operational guidelines.
“Agency (NESREA), and a world-class recycling expert RECYCLAN, our sustainability partner to evolve a system of buying back our production and packaging waste nationwide Through ATWAP STRUCTURE. This alone should create at least five hundred thousand jobs in the next two to three years.
“Environmentalists all over the world have continued to enlighten nations about the need to contain waste and use it beneficially,” Ativie noted.
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