The Ogun State Government through the Ministry of Environment is set to commence the verification process for the production of table water and beverages in the state.
The Ogun State Government, through its Ministry of Environment, is taking steps to initiate a verification process for the production of table water and beverages in the state. This initiative is a response to the recent outbreak of cholera in some parts of the state, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 12 people.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, made this announcement during a stakeholders meeting with the Table Water and Beverages Producers Association of Nigeria, held at the Ministry’s Conference Hall in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The meeting was convened to identify registered water producers who are adhering to proper water production procedures.
This verification process aims to ensure that water and beverage producers in Ogun State maintain high standards in order to prevent waterborne diseases like cholera and protect the health of residents.
He noted that it became necessary to monitor the hygienic process of producing water products and ensure that they meet the required standard for human consumption, to avert health hazards that could affect the lives and well-being of the people.
“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”, Oresanya noted.
He added that the Ministry will collaborate 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 to fish out the bad eggs among the producers.
Oresanya also stated that sanctions would be meted out to unscrupulous beings among the producers
Speaking on behalf of the producers, Mr Femi Olukoya and Lawan Shobiye assured of the association’s readiness to cooperate and support the State government in ensuring that the health and lives of the people are optimally protected in line with the hygienic production process of producing table and sachet water as regulated by NAFDAC and other agencies.
They both stressed that the association would not hesitate to report any of its members who are not complying with regulated rules backing the production processes and putting the lives of the people in grave danger.
Recall that the State government had alerted the public against possible cholera outbreak in Ijebu North Local Government area of the State.
Crediblenews.ng
