We registered over 1530 packaged water factories between Jan to Aug 2021: NAFDAC
No fewer than 1530 packaged water factories were registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) between January and August 2021, the Director of Press and Public relations, NAFDAC, Jimoh Abubakar has disclosed.
Jimoh, during an interview at the sideline of the 2021 National Convention of Association for Table Water Producers Of Nigeria (ATWAP) in Abuja, disclosed that within the period, it has shut down 27 package water industries over non-compliance to rules and regulations on quality assurance.
Abubakar, who represented the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said, the package water industry is big business, it is a multi-billion naira business that NAFDAC is taking seriously because water is life.
“Water is very important. It is a very serious business. Apart from economic benefits, the health benefits are overwhelming and when you get it right, you would have gained a lot in terms of NAFDAC contribution to guarantee an overall health care development system.
“That’s why NAFDAC under the leadership of Prof Adeyeye ensures that there is an absolute commitment to the issue of quality and standard.
“Just imagine a situation where there is a mishap in the water industry. Everybody takes water every day but there are people in the last three months who have not even taken any tablets or any medication. Water is life and to that extent, we don’t joke with the issue of water as we take it very seriously.
“It is an ongoing process and we are here to partner with the industry and to tell them NAFDAC cannot do it alone because they need to come to it and also to try to help us fish out the erring ones because they know those ones that don’t comply in their midst.
“They also know the illegal outfits that are operating. We are going to continue to work together to ensure we clean and sanitize the package water industry to ensure that when you take water, then you are good to go and close your eyes and believe that everything has been done with due diligence because NAFDAC number we give is very sacrosanct.
“It is a scientific number. It is not just any number like a motor licence number you give vehicles. It is a scientific number that if talk about NAFDAC number, it gives a scene of authority that NAFDAC has done its due diligence on what you want to buy.
“We are going to use this opportunity to further reinforce the extant rules and regulations. We have noticed some anomalies in the past with some packaged water producers and we have also given them support in some plan directives and some of them are currently working with them.
“As you are aware, the issue of regulation is an ongoing process they need to comply with. We need to continue to point the way for them just like people that are under your cover are subjected to order, they need to continue to comply with the ethics of the profession,” Adeyeye said.
The Informant247 Newspaper
