The Lagos State Government has dismissed rumors of a ban on sachet water within the state.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, clarified the situation on Sunday through a statement shared on his official X account. His response followed the circulation of a viral video depicting enforcement officers destroying packs of sachet water at various locations in Lagos.
Addressing the issue, Wahab explained that the officers in the video were from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). He stated that their actions were part of a lawful operation to remove unregistered and unsafe products from the market, prioritizing public health and safety.
“My attention has been drawn to a viral video showing individuals bursting sachet water packs at factories and on buses,” Wahab wrote. “I wish to categorically state that these individuals are not enforcement officers from any Lagos State Government agency or the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.”
He further clarified: “Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the individuals in question are enforcement officers from NAFDAC. Their actions are part of an enforcement exercise targeting sachet water that does not comply with NAFDAC regulations, undertaken in the interest of public health and safety.”
Wahab reassured Lagos residents that the state government has not imposed any ban on sachet water and has no plans to do so. Instead, he emphasized the government’s focus on improving plastic waste management across the state.
“As part of our commitment to sustainability, we are implementing mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for manufacturers of polythene terephthalate (PET) products, sachets, and carrier bags with a thickness of no less than 40 microns,” he added.
This clarification aims to dispel misinformation and highlight Lagos State’s ongoing efforts toward environmental conservation and public health.
