The Lagos State Government has officially debunked claims circulating on social media that it has banned the sale and distribution of sachet water, widely referred to as “pure water,” within the state.
The rumours, which gained traction online, suggested that a purported ban would take effect starting in 2025, causing widespread concern among residents and vendors. However, Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, dismissed these claims as baseless misinformation.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Wahab addressed the issue and clarified the true circumstances behind a viral video that fueled the rumours. The video showed individuals destroying packs of sachet water at factories and inside buses, which led many to believe that the Lagos State Government was behind the action.
The commissioner explained that the individuals in the video were not affiliated with any Lagos State agency or the Ministry of the Environment. Rather, they were enforcement officers from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Wahab stated that NAFDAC was conducting enforcement activities to remove sachet water products that failed to comply with regulatory standards, emphasizing that the operation was strictly in the interest of public health and safety.
“The individuals in question are enforcement officers of NAFDAC, targeting sachet water that doesn’t comply with NAFDAC regulations, in the interest of public health and safety,” Wahab clarified in part of his statement.
The commissioner further reassured Lagos residents that the state government has no intentions of banning sachet water. Instead, the administration is focused on advancing initiatives aimed at improving the state’s plastic waste management systems. As part of these efforts, the government has introduced mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations for producers of polyethene terephthalate (PET) bottles, sachets, and carrier bags of no less than 40 microns.
These measures aim to promote sustainability while addressing environmental and public health challenges linked to improper plastic disposal. Wahab noted that the government remains committed to protecting the health of residents and maintaining a cleaner Lagos for future generations.
The statement has sparked diverse reactions among Lagosians. While many commended the government for addressing the issue transparently, others expressed frustration over the initial spread of misinformation and called for greater awareness campaigns to curb such occurrences in the future.
In his concluding remarks, Wahab urged the public to verify information before spreading it online and reiterated the government’s dedication to sustainable environmental practices and ensuring access to safe drinking water for all residents.
[blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">My attention has been drawn to a viral video showing some individuals bursting sachet water packs at factories and on buses. 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…
— Tokunbo Wahab (@tokunbo_wahab) December 1, 2024
