Oyo Water Producers Oppose Sachet Ban Over Investment Risks

On Tuesday, the Association of Table Water Producers in Oyo State, led by Chairman Oladejo Adegboyega, appealed to the state House of Assembly to reconsider a proposed bill aimed at banning sachet water as part of a strategy to phase out single-use plastics by 2027. Adegboyega warned that the legislation, if enacted, could jeopardize billions of naira in investments and lead to significant job losses across the state.

He expressed concern that the bill had progressed through its first and second readings without adequate stakeholder engagement, despite the association's attempts to communicate with lawmakers since February. Adegboyega highlighted that sachet water is a crucial source of affordable drinking water for millions of Nigerians, particularly low-income earners, and that the absence of viable alternatives could have dire economic and public health implications.

He noted that registered sachet water producers have not been linked to any outbreaks of water-borne diseases, underscoring the safety of properly produced sachet water.