The Lagos State government refutes claims of a ban on sachet water, as clarified by the Minister of the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement on Sunday.
This statement comes in response to a viral video showing enforcement officers destroying sachet water packs in Lagos.
Wahab explained that the officers were actually from NAFDAC, carrying out their duty to remove unregistered and unsafe products for public safety and health.
“I wish to categorically state that these individuals are not enforcement officers from any Lagos State Government agency or the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
“Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the individuals in question are enforcement officers from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“Their actions are part of an enforcement exercise targeting sachet water that does not comply with NAFDAC regulations and in the interest of public health and safety.
“It is important to emphasise that Lagos State has not banned sachet water and does not have plans to do so. Our focus remains on effective plastic waste management.
“As part of our commitment, we are implementing mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for producers of polythene terephthalate (PET), sachets, and carrier bags of no less than 40 40 microns,” he stated.
