Aba table water producers lose N600m in one week

 

The operators, under the aegis of Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Abia State chapter, embarked on one-week strike on June 11, 2014, to express displeasure over the rising cost of production materials, multiple taxation as well as lack of infrastructure such as roads and power.

 

They explained that the cost of polythene, a major material for packaging, which sold between N510,000  and N520,000 per ton some months ago, has gone up to between N570,000  and N610,000 per ton.

 

High cost of fueling and maintenance of their power generating sets, due to irregular power supply from the national grid, poor state of infrastructure in Abia, as well as agitation for increased pay by workers were also some of the issues that influenced their decision to embark on the  strike, they affirmed.

 

 Alex Nwaobia, the association’s spokesperson, told BusinessDay, in an exclusive interview, that they also embarked on the strike to engage members and ensure that producers adhere strictly to proper industry standards.

 

“Somehow we have to assist ourselves and the general populace to check the activities of illegal producers: some that are not registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and  those that are registered but whose licenses have expired for many years. Due to the terrain of the state, some of these producers are in the hinterlands, without identifiable addressees,” Nwaobia said.

 

“We know the location of some of these producers and we have to bring them out, get their data and submit to NAFDAC to ensure standards, before the whole place is flooded with all sorts of products, “he stated.

Nwaobia also observed that government policies are not helping manufacturers and expressed displeasure over indiscriminate licensing of sachet water operators, despite the fact that most states and local government areas do not have recycling plants to clean up the nylon bags.

According to him, some of the nylon bags that Nigerians use are not biodegradable, which poses a  health risk.

 

 “Aba alone can boast of 110 table water companies, which makes the business saturated and very difficult to regulate by the authorities. That is why we have taken it upon ourselves to try and regulate ourselves, “he said.