The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC),
has shut down 30 erring water factories in Nasarawa state between 2015
and 2016.
The Acting NAFDAC Director-General, Mrs Oyentunde Oyin, disclosed this on Tuesday at the occasion of the annual water quality monitoring event at Fauzee Bottle Water Factory in Lafia.
Oyin, who was represented by Mr Michael Attah, the agency's State Coordinator, said NAFDAC closed the factories during a routine but unannounced inspection tour.
"In the course of our regulation and surveillance inspection from 2015 to 2016, we shut down more than 30 factories across the state for producing below standard.
``The agency has many sanctions for factories violating our standard or not adhering strictly to our rules and regulations.’’
She urged the public to help the agency with relevant information on poor products, based on their experience and the activities of illegal operators of water factories.
Oyin added that the annual water quality monitoring was aimed at carrying out on-the-spot test of purity and packaged/bottled water.
"The exercise is imperative because most producers of water do not have an in-house quality control unit to analyse the quality of their products periodically.
"The exercise gives manufacturers the opportunity to see the sample tested practically and if found satisfactory, it builds more confidence on the products and helps the producers to maintain the standard.
"On the other hand, if found unsatisfactory, the agency will audit the processes and make the necessary corrections that would enable the products meet required quality standard,” she added.
She said that the exercise, which was being conducted through a mobile laboratory hired from Global Consult Ltd, would be done in all the 13 local government areas of the state.
On his part, Mr Emmanuel Osiegbu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Consult, said the exercise would help to discover and correct any abnormalities in the water production process.
"In case of any water related outbreak of disease as a result of the consumption of any processed water from any factory, the agency would be able to trace through their records and get the source.’’
Earlier, Mr Alfred Alogola, the state Chairman, Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), assured NAFDAC that water producers would sustain the product quality and adhere strictly to standard.
He appealed to government at all levels to create the enabling environment for local manufacturers of water by ensuring stable power supply.
According to him, if producers of water in the country are provided with 24 hours power supply, the industry alone is capable of generating more than 10 million jobs for Nigerians. (NAN)