Lagos, March 29, 2023 – NAFDAC has advised packaged and sachet water producers in Nigeria to always adopt good manufacturing practices to safeguard the wellbeing of consumers.
Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC, gave the advice at the 2023 World Water Day commemoration in Lagos on Wednesday.
Adeyeye, who was represented by Mrs. Abayomi Juliana, the Director (Food Registration and Regulatory Affairs) in NAFDAC, said that poor quality water would kill faster than what could be imagined when consumed by unsuspecting consumers.
Adeyeye said that this year’s World Water Day with the theme: ‘’Accelerating Change’’ was aimed at solving water and sanitation crisis.
‘’Water affects us all, we need everyone to take actions; that means, you and your family, churches, mosques, markets, communities etc. can make a difference by changing the way we use, consume, and manage water in our lives.’’
She said World Water Day was being celebrated every year to focus attention on the value of freshwater and encourage others toward sustainable use of freshwater resources.
‘’Right now, we are seriously off-track to meet the sustainable development goal; water and sanitation for all in 2030’’, she said.
She said that the dysfunctionalities throughout the water cycle had undermined progress on all major global issues from health to hunger, gender equality to jobs, and education to industries.
Adeyeye said the reason for the UN agencies’ continued annual campaign for water included public sensitization on water problems and coordination of efforts with other countries.
She said that this year’s occasion would identify various water related challenges and provide solutions to reduction of these challenges.
NAFDAC boss urged Nigerians not to wait for a water crisis to erupt before acting, stressing that there is a great deal of interaction between the biotic and abiotic worlds.
She admonished all present to always boil water from boreholes and wells to avoid water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid fever, and cholera as children are most susceptible to these illnesses.
Adeyeye also enjoined parents to be careful with where they source bottled or sachet water and that NAFDAC, acting on her mandate on the regulation and control of water would, continue to monitor water manufacturers for compliance to NAFDAC regulations.
She commended self-regulation efforts by operators in the sector, but said that regulatory sanctions would be meted out to any manufacturer that failed to comply with regulations and guidelines.
She stressed that ‘’water is one of the things that give us life. Conserve and use water to prolong life’’. (GBN)
