Sachet water producers in Oyo State have asked the state House of Assembly to drop plans for a total ban on their products. Instead, they are proposing a strong recycling programme to tackle plastic waste while protecting jobs and affordable drinking water for residents.

The Chairman of the Association of Table Water Producers, Oladejo Adegboyega, said a sudden ban would hurt investments worth billions of naira and lead to massive job losses. He warned that foreign partners are already threatening to leave the state if the law is passed as planned.

The producers argue that sachet water is the most accessible and cheapest source of clean drinking water for millions of low-income Nigerians. Removing it without a realistic alternative could push people back to unsafe streams and wells, creating health risks.

The association has suggested an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. This would set up collection centres where people can return used sachets for money, encouraging recycling and creating new jobs in the process.

Lawmakers are still considering the bill, which aims to phase out some single-use plastics by 2027. The producers say they support efforts to reduce pollution but want sachet water removed from the ban list.

They have promised to work with the government on responsible waste management if given the chance.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper