Lagos State Government denies being Responsible for Viral video showing men Destroying Sachet waters en masse, and Blames it on NAFDAC who also denies being Responsible for the act
Lagos State Government denies plans to ban sachet water (pure water) in 2025 and denies being responsible for viral video showing men breaking sachet waters en masse.
In a viral video, people were seen acting like law enforcement agents, going about destroying bags of sachet waters popularly referred to as ‘pure water’ in factories and from distribution vehicles.
Nigerians reacted disapprovingly from footages of the videos, accusing the Government for sponsoring such acts. Especially at a time when the country was being lashed with inflation, sachet water remains the only affordable water for average Nigerians.
The Lagos State Government have responded to the allegations and denied being responsible for what was happening in the viral video.
The stand of the Government was revealed by the State’s Commissioner for Environment and Water, Tokunbo Wahab, who wrote on his Twitter (X) handle saying; “These individuals are not enforcement officers from any Lagos State Government agency.”
Wahab pointed fingers towards the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration (NAFDAC), saying investigations revealed that the men in the viral video destroying sachets of water were NAFDAC officers enforcing regulations against non-compliant sachet water producers.
He later mentioned the Government’s plans to establish a means through which plastic wastes can be managed effectively without negative impacts n people’s economic interests.
He wrote; “Our focus remains on effective plastic waste management. Members of the public should disregard any misinformation suggesting a ban on sachet water in Lagos state.
“The Ministry is fully committed to fostering dialogue and working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure sustainable waste management while supporting the economic interests of Lagosians,” Wahab said.
NAFDAC have also denied claims by the Lagos State Government that it was responsible for the sachet water destructions.
They revealed this in a post on twitter saying; “The videos circulating of individuals engaging in enforcement activities are NOT NAFDAC officials or part of our team.”
The Issue of Sachet Water Waste in Lagos and Nigeria at large
There has been an alarming need to address the issue of waste, especially plastic polyethylene wastes in the City of Lagos, and most parts of Nigeria.
Sachet water which has had a long history in Nigeria first comes to mind, because of its general usage. But, there lies a problem of disposal, since it is not recyclable.
When you walk on the streets of most of Nigeria’s industrious cities, you see used sachet water bags in abundance, filling gutters to an exhausting height with various other wastes where water that should have left the road, remains still because its drainage route have been blocked by those wastes.
This in a way has contributed to flooding, and accidents. It therefore becomes pertinent that government should address the issue.
Can the Use of Sachet Water be Stopped in Nigeria?
Sachet waters popularly referred to as pure waters have had a significant history in Nigeria.
If sachet waters have to be banned, then there must be a balanced alternative concerning the availability of drinkable water and the price.
Lots of people living in Lagos State complain of bore hole water, and its undrinkable state. Some complain of its unavailability, hence most people have to rely on sachet waters for bathing and those who can’t afford bottle waters, rely on it for drinking.
One other problem is that, a lot of Nigerians do not care about their environment. If the government provides means of disposing plastic wastes, many would still go ahead dumping their used plastics on the streets and gutters.
The government most times have to pay for the cleaning of the already blocked gutters so that rain water can run through.
