Towards ensuring the Supply and Consumption of disease Free Water in the Federal Capital Territory, (fct) Abuja, the Association of Table Water Producers has held a Training and Workshop for it members in Partnership with the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standard Organization of Nigeria, (SON) respectively.
The training took place at the National merit Award House Maitama Abuja, and participants were drawn from Manufacturer of Table water in the Federal Capital Territory, Officers of National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) and resource persons from various organizations.
Besides ensuring Compliance to the Standard of producing healthy drinking water as laid down by the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, and the Standard Organization of Nigeria, the training and Work shop also intends to equip Manufacturers on Proper accounting and bookkeeping procedures of their income and expenditure of their respective Organizations.
The training also educate Members of the Association on the Current innovation on Manufacturing of table Waters, how to reduce waste during Production, and also on the need to eradicate quackery and those that engaged in Sharp practices in the process of Production amongst Others.
The Chairman of the Association, Hon. Muhammed Okpanachi Akwu Commended participants for hiding the call of the Association on the need for building Capacity for healthy and quality water Production, adding that the need to key into new innovations in the Sector was significantly necessary as it would translate to quality water Production in the Federal Capital Territory.
He described the training provided by the National Agency for Fooo, Drugs Administration and Control and the Standard Organization respectively,as quite educative and enriching as it would help to eliminate water related disease in the fct, the training and workshop also served as a wake-up call to some manufacturers who engaged themselves in unwholesome practises in the table Waters producing sector he added,even as he said that the two regulating agencies will periodically, embarked on routine inspections to ensure Compliance from members.
While Calling on members to demonstrates Commitments and take the Two-day Capacity building training and Workshop seriously,he urged them to put to practice all they had learnt for optimum productivity.
Continuing, Hon. Akwu warned manufacturers who are yet to gets approval from National Agency for Food,Drugs Administration and Control and the Standard Organization of Nigeria to do so before the long hands of the law come on them, adding that operating outside the Detates of the regulating agencies is a Crime.
Earlier, the Federal Capital Territory, fct Coordinator of the Standard Organization of Nigeria,SON, Gamagira Isiaka Muhammed, Commended the leadership ATWAP, for her efforts and Commitments aimed at sanitising the sector, pointing out that her Collaboration with the Standard Organization of Nigeria was a step in the right direction.noting that, the Federal Capital Territory Standard Organization of Nigeria was ready to partner ATWAP to fish out erring manufacturers.
Another issue that raised concern amongst the table Waters producers at the training and Workshop, is the high cost of production,Occasioned by the high rate of inflation witnessed in the Country today,as most manufacturers said the Bussiness has become difficult to operate due to constant increase in the price of materials, they appealed to the public to understand with them (Table Waters manufacturers) as they also intend to increase the price of the product.