Table Water Producers Seek Stronger Government Backing to Curb Illegal Operators
Hussaini Ibrahim 
KANO, Nigeria – The outgoing National President of the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Dr Mrs Clementina Chinwe Ativie, has called for deeper collaboration between the association and government regulators to curb illegal water production and protect public health.
Speaking on Saturday at the association’s National Delegate Convention in Kano, Ativie reflected on her eight-year tenure, highlighting key achievements as well as persistent regulatory challenges confronting Nigeria’s table water industry.
“I am happy to hand over to a new leadership. I pray that whoever emerges will continue to strengthen the association and uphold the standards we have worked hard to maintain,” Ativie said.
She explained that the association represents table water producers across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, covering both sachet water—commonly known as “pure water”—and bottled water producers.
According to Ativie, the association plays a coordinating role in promoting compliance with safety standards to prevent public health risks.
“If water is not properly treated and packaged, it becomes a serious public health hazard,” she said, noting that the association regularly engages the National Assembly’s committee on food safety and food poisoning to improve grassroots monitoring.
Illegal water production, she added, remains a major challenge, with some operators producing without registration or using counterfeit registration numbers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“We are not a statutory enforcement agency. Membership is voluntary, and that limits our ability to fully police the industry,” Ativie said.
However, she expressed optimism that stronger government support could significantly reduce illegal practices, given the association’s nationwide distribution network.
“Our drivers move through communities daily. With proper backing, they can help regulators quickly identify suspicious products,” she said.
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Koko Maxwella 