Trending video: NAFDAC, LASG disagree on identity of officers conducting regulatory checks
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State Government and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have become embroiled in a public dispute following the circulation of a viral video showing individuals bursting sachet water packs in factories and on buses.
The video, which has caused widespread alarm among residents, led to speculation that the Lagos government was preparing to ban sachet water.
In a statement on Sunday posted on his X, formerly Twitter, handle, Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, clarified that the video, which had sparked widespread concern, did not involve enforcement officers from the Lagos State Government.
Wahab revealed that the individuals in the video were operatives from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), who were enforcing regulations against non-compliant sachet water products in the interest of public health.
“The Lagos State Government is not banning sachet water, and we have no plans to do so,” Wahab stated, urging the public to disregard the misinformation.
He reiterated that the government remains committed to effective plastic waste management, which includes the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy for producers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), sachets, and plastic bags.
Furthermore, Wahab announced that the state is collaborating with producers and organisations to establish a Plastic Waste Management Fund, aimed at tackling the growing challenge of plastic waste in Lagos.
Meanwhile, NAFDAC, for its part, defended its role in the enforcement actions depicted in the video, maintaining that such operations were in line with its mandate to regulate food and beverage safety in Nigeria.
In a statement shared via X (formerly Twitter), the agency explained, “The videos circulating of individuals engaging in enforcement activities are NOT NAFDAC officials or part of our Investigation & Enforcement team.
“Furthermore, stopping vehicles to destroy products is unprofessional and does not align with any NAFDAC Standard Operating Procedure.”
The clash between the two agencies has highlighted ongoing tensions over regulatory authority, with the Lagos State Government emphasizing the need for sustainable waste management, while NAFDAC continues to enforce safety measures for water products.
