The Ogun State Government has said it will begin a verification exercise for the producers of table water and beverages following a cholera outbreak in some parts of the state which has killed at least 12 people.
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, during a stakeholders meeting with the Table Water and Beverages Producers Association of Nigeria held at the Ministry’s Conference Hall, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, according to a statement.
Oresanya noted that the meeting was necessary for the agency to know those who are registered water producers that are complying with the process of water production.
He said it was important to monitor the hygienic process of producing water products and ensure that they meet the required standard for human consumption, to prevent health hazards that could affect the lives and well-being of the people.
Oresanya said, “The state will not tolerate any factory that is not ready to follow the due process of production, because you are registered or enlisted with NAFDAC does not mean that as a state we will not follow up with your production process to ensure that due diligence is done to avert health issues that can affect the lives of people living in the state.”
The commissioner noted that the Ministry will partner with NAFDAC, the Ministries of Health and Industry, Trade, and Investment to ensure compliance with the hygienic process of production while periodic on-the-spot assessments will be done apprehend those who do not comply with required standards among the producers.
He equally said that sanctions would be meted out to unscrupulous beings among the producers
Speaking on behalf of the producers, Femi Olukoya and Lawan Shobiye, promised that the association is ready to cooperate and support the state government in ensuring the health and lives of the people are optimally protected in accordance with the hygienic production process of producing table and sachet water as regulated by NAFDAC and other agencies.
They both submitted that the association would not hesitate to report any of its members who do not adhere to regulated rules backing the production processes and putting the lives of the people in grave danger.
