•’Pure water’
The Association of Table Water Producers in Oyo State has urged the Oyo State House of Assembly to reconsider its proposed bill seeking to ban sachet water, popularly referred to as Pure Water, as part of efforts to phase out single-use plastics, warning that foreign investors are already threatening to withdraw from the state.
The Chairman of the association, Oladejo Adegboyega, made the appeal today while addressing journalists at the Trade Fair Complex in Ibadan.
He said the proposed legislation, if passed in its current form, would jeopardise investments worth billions of naira, lead to job losses and reduce access to affordable drinking water for millions of residents, reports The PUNCH.
The proposed legislation seeks to phase out selected single-use plastic products in the state by 2027 as part of efforts to curb environmental pollution and improve waste management.
The proposal has generated mixed reactions, particularly from operators in the sachet water industry, who argue that a total ban without adequate alternatives would have serious economic and public health implications.
Adegboyega said the association first became aware of the proposed bill in February through media reports and immediately wrote to the Speaker and Clerk of the House of Assembly requesting an opportunity to engage lawmakers on its implications.
He said the Assembly acknowledged receipt of the letters but did not respond until after the bill had passed its first and second readings.
“We were surprised that the bill had gone through the first and second readings before stakeholders like us were invited. Nevertheless, we prepared and submitted a comprehensive memorandum as requested because we believed constructive engagement was the best approach,” he said.
According to him, while the government has the constitutional authority to enact laws, such policies must reflect prevailing socio-economic realities.
“Government has the constitutional power to make laws, but any policy must consider the realities on the ground. Sachet water remains the most accessible and affordable source of drinking water for millions of Nigerians.
“People can find sachet water in every town, village and rural community. If the alternative is bottled water, that is unrealistic because bottled water is beyond the reach of the average Nigerian. More than 80 per cent of our population are low-income earners who depend on sachet water daily. Now, the foreign investors partnering with us are threatening to move out of Oyo,” he said.
Adegboyega maintained that properly produced sachet water has remained a safe source of drinking water, noting that no outbreak of cholera or typhoid had been traced to registered sachet water producers.
He warned that banning sachet water without providing an affordable alternative could force many residents to rely on unsafe water sources.
“For years, many communities have not enjoyed regular clean public water supply. If sachet water is removed without a viable alternative that is affordable and accessible to ordinary Nigerians, people may return to fetching water from unsafe streams and shallow wells, exposing them to serious health risks,” he said.
The association also warned that the proposed ban would undermine investor confidence and threaten thousands of jobs.
“If professional valuers assess all our factories today, the investments will run into billions of naira. These are legitimate businesses established in accordance with the law.
“Passing a law that suddenly renders such investments unviable will undoubtedly threaten investors’ confidence, not only in our sector but across the state.
“The sachet water industry has become a major employer of labour, with even the smallest production facility providing jobs for several workers.
“In every factory, no matter how small, people are employed. We train them, they earn livelihoods, raise families and contribute to the economy. At a time when unemployment remains a major concern, this is not the kind of policy that should be introduced,” he added.
Adegboyega said the association had proposed an Extended Producer Responsibility programme that would establish collection centres where used sachet water nylons would be purchased from the public and recycled.
“Such an initiative would not only reduce indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste but also create additional jobs through a robust recycling value chain.
“We proposed designated collection centres across the state where people can return used sachet water nylons and receive payment. That will encourage recycling, reduce environmental pollution and create another stream of employment.
“The committee acknowledged that if our proposal is implemented, it will substantially address the environmental concerns associated with sachet water packaging,” he said.
Despite what he described as the committee’s positive response, Adegboyega expressed surprise that the Assembly still appeared determined to retain sachet water in the bill.
Reaffirming the association’s commitment to constructive engagement, he urged lawmakers to remove sachet water from the proposed legislation.
“Our position is clear. Remove sachet water from the bill and we have no objection to regulations affecting other single-use plastics. We are responsible manufacturers and we are ready to partner with government in tackling environmental pollution.
“However, if the Assembly proceeds with the bill in its present form and it eventually becomes law, we will explore every legal avenue available to protect our investments, our workers and the millions of consumers who depend on sachet water every day,” he said.
