ABUJA – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it has concluded its safe water analysis in 21 states of the federation.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr Paul Orhii, said this at the presentation of the national update report of the annual on the spot monitoring of packaged (bottled) water of the states in Abuja.
He listed Delta, Edo, Zamfara, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, Anambra, Katsina and Kogi as some of the states as well as the FCT Abuja that have undergone the water analysis.
He explained that the analysis of the packaged water products from the factories of the states would form part of the profiling of water quality in the remaining states.
“Based on the tests carried out by the agency, there are some findings that are of public health significance and NAFDAC have assigned adequate Corrective Action Prevention Action (CAPA’s).
“The outcome of this exercise in the form of generated data will be considered as National Data on packaged water quality parameters.
“The profiling will be shared with relevant stakeholders in Nigeria to add value to the sector’s quality improvement so as to bring improved ethics, transparency and dependability of quality report on packaged water,” he said.
The NAFDAC boss added that increased complaints from consumers necessitated the post marketing authorisation surveillance activities by the agency.
He said the monitoring exercise was a robust response conceived to add value to the quality system of the sector by use of mobile laboratory modern equipment for the spot check in factories of water producers.
“The primary objective of the Annual packaged water monitoring exercise was to ensure that packaged water producers comply strictly with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) without compromising quality and safety of consumers.
“This is due to the importance of the safety of water consumption, the increased need to continually and proactively prevent water-borne diseases,” Orhii said.
Orhii warned that packaged water products which were not subjected to annual monitoring exercise would not be considered for renewal of licence.
He also warned that the agency would close down erring factories.
“Communities, commercial and private borehole water owners/operators are advised to subject their borehole water to quality status profile analysis to enable them determine the level of required treatment.
“The treatment is for the water from their borehole based on location due to inherent water hazards as evident arising from the on the spot monitoring and profiling exercise to be checked,” he said.
Mr Emmanuel Osiegbo, the Manager of the consultancy firm partnering with NAFDAC on the project, said the analysis was the first phase of the water test.
Osiegbo observed from the water tests conducted that it was to create awareness in all commercial packaged water manufacturers on the need to produce safe water and still maintain standard.
He said the ability of the water manufacturers to review result on the spot and failure in parameters was addressed immediately.