As part of moves to curb the outbreak of Cholera in some parts of Ogun State, which has killed at least 12 people, the Ogun State Government, through the Ministry of Environment, is set to commence the verification of producers of table water and beverages in the state.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, according to a statement on Sunday, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting with the Table Water and Beverages Producers Association of Nigeria held at the ministry’s Conference Hall, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Oresanya said the meeting was necessary for the agency to know the registered water producers in order to fish out illegal operators in the industry.
“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 said the ministry would collaborate with NAFDAC, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of 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.
Speaking on behalf of the water 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 were protected.
