By Abdullahi Lukman
The outgoing National President of the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria, Dr. Clementina Ativie, has called for closer collaboration between the association and government regulators to combat illegal water production and protect public health.
She made the appeal on Saturday during the association’s National Delegates Convention in Kano, where new national executives were elected and the body’s activities reviewed.
Ativie identified illegal production as a major challenge in Nigeria’s water industry, alleging that some operators manufacture and distribute water without proper registration and, in some cases, use counterfeit registration numbers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“There are individuals producing water illegally and operating outside regulatory oversight,” she said, noting that enforcement is complicated because membership of the association is voluntary.
“We are not a statutory enforcement agency.
Producers can choose not to join the association, and that limits our ability to fully police the industry,” she explained.
Despite this limitation, Ativie expressed optimism that stronger government support would enable the association to leverage its nationwide network to identify and curb illegal practices.
She said distribution drivers working across communities could help regulators detect suspicious products more quickly.
She described the association’s relationship with regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, as cooperative, stressing that all stakeholders share the goal of ensuring compliance with safety standards.
Ativie, who first assumed office in 2017 and was re-elected in 2021, reflected on her eight-year tenure as she formally handed over leadership.
She said the transition marked both a fulfilment of duty and a responsibility to sustain progress.
The association represents table water producers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, covering sachet and bottled water manufacturers at national, zonal and local government levels.
It plays a coordinating role in promoting adherence to safety and production standards to prevent public health risks.
According to Ativie, past conventions were held in Rivers State in 2017 and in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in 2019, alongside annual state-level meetings.
She also noted the association’s engagement with the National Assembly’s committee on food safety and food poisoning to develop monitoring mechanisms capable of reaching grassroots producers.
As she concluded her tenure, Ativie urged the newly elected executive council to prioritise unity and maintain industry standards.
“Unity is key. When producers work together and uphold proper practices, the entire industry benefits,” she said.
The Kano convention marked the beginning of a new leadership term as the association prepares to address regulatory, operational and public health challenges in Nigeria’s growing table water sector.
