Cholera Outbreak: Ogun State govt to verify producers of table water, beverages
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The Ogun State Government has said it will soon commence verification processes for producers of table water and beverages as part of efforts to curb the outbreak of cholera in some parts of the state.
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This is as the government, through the Ministry of Environment said it would not hesitate to punish producers who do not comply with the process of water production as it decried the death of at least 12 people in the state since the recent outbreak.
In a statement, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, who spoke during a stakeholder’s meeting with the Table Water and Beverages Producers Association of Nigeria held at the Ministry’s Conference Hall, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, made the disclosure.
Oresanya said that the meeting was necessary for the agency to know those who are registered water producers and who are complying with the process of water production as it had become necessary to monitor the hygienic process of producing water products and ensure that they meet the required standard for human consumption, to avert health hazards that could affect the lives and well-being of the people.
Mr Oresanya said, “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.
While noting that sanctions would be meted out to unscrupulous beings among the producers the Commissioner said that the Ministry will collaborate with NAFDAC, the Ministries of Health and 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.
Meanwhile, Mr Femi Olukoya and Lawan Shobiye who spoke on behalf of the producers, assured of the association’s readiness to cooperate and support the state government in ensuring the health and lives of the people are optimally protected in line with the hygienic production process of producing table and sachet water as regulated by NAFDAC and other agencies.
They both stressed that the association would not hesitate to report any of its members who are not complying with regulated rules backing the production processes and putting the lives of the people in grave danger.
In another story, the Federal Government through its Presidential Compressed Natural Gas CNG, Initiative yesterday, inaugurated the Kaduna State CNG conversion centre as part of efforts to mitigate the effect of subsidy removal.
According to the Chairman of the Presidential CNG Initiative Steering Committee, Zacch Adedeji, the CNG conversion site is a visionary facility designed to convert conventional petrol vehicles into Compressed Natural Gas-powered vehicles.
Adedeji noted that the centres represented Nigeria’s commitment to transitioning to cleaner and more affordable energy solutions.
Speaking at the inauguration of the conversion centre on Saturday, he said the transformation would “not only reduce the operating cost for vehicle owners but also contribute to the substantial decrease in carbon emissions.”
He said, “Today, we break new ground on a journey toward a more sustainable, more affordable and eco-friendly future.
“The Renewed Hope administration is committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and environmental responsibility.
“The CNG conversation site embodies our commitment to ushering in an energy revolution that bridges the future with the present.
“We recognise that affordable energy is crucial, and CNG is the answer. It provides a more cost-effective alternative to traditional petrol, making it a practical choice for consumers and businesses alike.”
Also speaking, the Program Director, P-CNGi, Michael Oluwagbemi, noted that the event represents a major stride in the quest for cleaner, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious energy solutions.
“But let us remember: this is not just about Kaduna; it is about a nation and a world increasingly conscious of the need for cleaner, more affordable energy.
“Today, we stand on the precipice of history at the heart of Kaduna, where the vision for a sustainable, affordable, and eco-friendly energy future is about to become a reality. This groundbreaking ceremony is not just the initiation of a new CNG conversion centre; it is the crescendo of an odyssey that began with the commissioning of centres in Lagos and Abuja,” he started.
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