Water production industry: Stakeholders lament over multiple regulations, high cost of production, job cuts
Table water producers across the country have lamented the high cost of production and other challenges which has rendered their businesses almost prostrate since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic hence they have decided to review their business model in order to stay afloat.
The foregoing was the summary of the two-day convention organised by the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP) Southwest/Kwara Zone, held in Lagos.
Speaking on the theme of the convention tagged: “Atajere: Selling to make profit,” the Coordinator of the Southwest/Kwara Zone, Prince Ademola Adeyeye said the whole essence is to add value to their business and see how members’ lots can be better.
“What we are doing here today is a way of being proactive rather than reactive. We thank God for the leadership of the Association which has been up and doing.
“We are the only industry where we have over 25 regulatory agencies including SON, NAFDAC, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Environment, Health, etc.
“At the state levels too there are several regulatory agencies even across the various states of the federation.
“The industry has been facing serious challenges but we are up to the task. I don’t see any industry in Nigeria that is being policed by the regulators.
Speaking earlier, the National President of the Association, Mrs. Clementina Ativie the whole idea behind the convention is to help to rejig the business ultimately. “What we are doing here is going to replicate it in all the zones in Nigeria. Southwest is always the pacesetter but we have flagged it even in the north central, Benue, Abuja.”
Expatiating, she said, “Every other thing in the country has all gone up, only water is still the same in terms of the costing. But now, we have decided that whatever we are incurring as cost of production let us also input it on the selling price so that we will still be in business.
“Water is life. If we begin to cut corners for water production the lives of Nigerians would beat risk. We have taken it upon ourselves to make sure that we attack the quacks in the industry and at the same time make our prices as such that no one will have reasons to cut corners so that we can give Nigerians, adequate, portable and secure water.
“We keep telling government times without numbers that they should make sure all the regulatory agencies come to ATWAP because it is only through us they can get to all water producers in Nigeria. ATWAP members are widespread across the country. We have offices, members in every nook and cranny of this country.”
Mrs. Ativie who just got reelected for a second tenure to lead the 22-year-old body, further assured that she hopes to build on the good foundations already laid down.
“We ATWAP members nationwide have decided to regulate ourselves to help the regulatory agencies to make their work easier.
“Besides, despite the challenges we are facing in the industry, we have decided to bring up some programmes that would put smiles on the faces of water producers in Nigeria.”
Also speaking on her expectation at the convention, the Lagos State Chairperson, Mrs. Omolabake Ololade said, “After this convention, I will like to see more dedicated members committed to quality assurance, provision of wholesome water for the populace and from are our stakeholders we hope they keep their promised to partner we us so that we can move the industry to an enviable state.”
