The Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) has decried the increases in prices of packaging material and multiple taxation on table and sachet water producers in the country. Saying the situation might head to total collapse of availability and affordability of sachet water in Nigeria.
This was stated by the National President of Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) Dr Clementina Ativie, at a press conference in Lagos, warning that sachet water popularly known as ‘Pure water’ may soon sell for N100 per one.
Açcording to her, the association has been excluded from all forms of government interventions, palliatives and support to enhance the water production business, instead they’re being faced with multiple taxations and overlapping functions of different regulatory bodies.
Ativie stated further that though the market is ever-changing, the inconsistency in price increase of packaging materials and the frequency it occurs, especially by nylon manufacturers poses an economic strain on water producters.
“Sachet water stated with N5 per sachet. Now it is moving to N50 per sachet, If not N100.
“As at last December, we were buying materials for N1,100 per kg and a ton gives you N1.1 million. That same kg of nylon is now N3.7 million. This increase in the price of materials can come as many as three times a week.
“With the way things are going, water might increase to N100 per sachet and we don’t want that. We don’t want Nigerians to buy water for more than N20 per sachet. People may resort to tying water in nylon which will resurrent the emergence of water borne diseases that we have dealth with a long time ago”.
She advised that the regulatory bodies should work with the association in checking unwholesome water production in the country.
-9News Nigeria.
