MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LASEPA TO LIAISE WITH NAFDAC ON PURE WATER
Motion:
“That in view of the fact that there are all sorts of ‘pure water’ in circulation in Lagos State with the attendant risk of water borne diseases, this House do call on the Lagos State Ministry of Health and LASEPA to urgently liaise with NAFDAC so as to sanitise the Lagos market of substandard consumer products.”
The motion was moved by the Majority Leader, Alhaji F.A.A. Oshodi (Oshodi/Isolo I) on the 22nd February 2001. The motion was seconded by Hon. A.S. Fabikun (Oshodi/Isolo II). In his opening
“All of us are very much aware of the purification of “pure water” in Lagos State. We have a lot of it with different brand names in every corner of Lagos State. A large quantity of “pure water” is packaged under unhygienic conditions in shops, houses and even around the corners. The water packaged is mostly from shallow wells, leaking taps and even from the streams.”
He further argued that the “pure water” sold all over the state could have serious health implications for Lagosians.
“The consumption of this water spreads water borne diseases. The most dreaded disease caused by the consumption of this pure water is typhoid. If you go to any of our hospitals, you will find children and even adults waiting to be treated for typhoid disease. Few days ago, the Hon. Member for Ifako/Ijaiye II (Alhaji S.O. Mustapha) was infected by typhoid fever which, I am sure, he got through drinking pure water.”
He also highlighted the environmental problems that could be linked to the pure water business in the state.
“Apart from the spread of these diseases you will find most of our drainages, gutters and highways littered with pure water polythene containers. They make our streets and gutters dirty.”
Urging his colleagues to support the motion, the Majority Leader said:
“Pure water is the most common and easiest product in Lagos State. In my area, I can mention four or five different brand names of pure water made from the corners of rooms, with either well or tap water. I don’t know how they seal these polythene bags. We are witnessing a very dangerous trend and unless something is done urgently, Lagos State residents will be prone to typhoid and other water borne diseases. Our health is in great danger if something is not done urgently.”
The first to contribute to the motion was Alhaji S.A. Hassan, the honourable member for Ikorodu II, who made an observation before contributing to the motion on the floor. In his observation he said that the use of acronyms should be avoided when motions were presented to the House.
“When next we want to have a motion on the order paper, we should avoid abbreviations and acronyms. We should first of all write the full name before we abbreviate. I am just trying to recollect the meaning of NAFDAC. Many people may not know what these acronyms, LASEPA and NAFDAC stand for.”
After being assured by the Speaker of the House that those names would be written in full, he went ahead to make his contributions to the motion on ground. He agreed with the mover that the source of the so-called pure water was not to be trusted. He said:
“I believe we all know the source of the so-called pure water. Some of them are fetched from the well or borehole. For instance, somebody who drank the water from my borehole said the water there has iron. I asked what he meant by that, he said I should contact Water Corporation to assist me put some chemicals in the water. I did not know that the water from my borehole has too much iron. I then asked the man the implication of that. He said it causes haemosiderosis.”
Based on this personal experience he said that to continue drinking the so-called pure water was dangerous to health because they are not pure.
However, he disagreed with the part of the motion which said LASEPA and the Ministry of Health should liaise with NAFDAC, insisting that the latter had its own terms of reference and had done it bit in that regard. He argued that it was LASEPA and the Ministry of Health that had failed to enforce the relevant laws.
“NAFDAC has its own terms of reference, and they have done their bit. Some of the pure water being sold around have NAFDAC inscription on them telling us that they are approved. The question of asking LASEPA and the Ministry of Health to liaise with NAFDAC should not arise because NAFDAC is doing its work. Of course, LASEPA and the Ministry of Health have their own functions too. The problem is enforcement of laws. In most cases after arresting some manufacturers of these “pure water”, what becomes of them thereafter? We know the penalty but when the violators are arrested they settle the officials.”
He concluded by saying that what needed to be done was to intensify efforts in the enforcement of existing laws.
The Speaker of the House agreed with Hassan and commented thus:
“That is a good point; we should find ways of enforcing compliance. We have various regulations and laws but it is the enforcement of these laws that should be looked into.”
The next person to contribute to the motion was Hon. S.O. Mustapha (Ifako/Ijaiye II) who concurred that the main issue was implementation of existing laws. He said:
“We should look critically on the implementation of the laws. I remember sometime ago, we read on the pages of newspapers that sale of “pure water” in sachets has been banned. I expected that that order would be implemented but I am surprised to see that pure water is still being sold everywhere.”
He said that there should be massive enlightenment campaigns to let people know the danger of drinking sachet water.
“Now that the budget has been passed I expected the Ministry of Health to go out on enlightenment campaign, have jingles on radio and television and place adverts in newspapers to tell people the danger in drinking this impure water that is called “pure water” I want the Ministry of Health to go out on enlightenment campaign because they do not have to wait until we have epidemic before they start to tell people the danger in drinking impure water. People are drinking it ignorantly; they do not know the danger.”
Hon. Mustapha further noted that part of the problem was the failure of the Water Corporation to fulfil its mandate of giving water to the people. He said the people had to resort to alternative sources for water. “It is the unavailability of water that makes manufacturers to spring up in every corner”, he concluded.
In his contribution, Hon. J.A. Ogunkoya (Ajeromi/Ifelodun II) said that the sale of pure water on the streets had become permanent. He also noted that even in Britain and United States, there was pure water sold in the busy areas.
“It is not only in Nigeria that pure water is manufactured. In Britain and the United States for instance, they sell pure water. It depends on how it is packaged.”
He however said the problem was the government agencies that had failed to enforce the rules guiding the manufacture and sale of pure water. He argued:
“If various government agencies are committed to their functions in enforcing the compliance of the rules in respect of control of buying and selling ‘pure water’, there will be less health hazards.”
He said that the motion was appropriate as it was intended to compel the various agencies of government to wake up to their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding the health of the people.
Also supporting the motion was Mr. O.O. Oyewo (Amuwo/Odofin I). He mentioned that most deadly micro-organisms are water born, saying that because of that there was need for adequate control of water in the state. He explained that the situation had become very dangerous and could cause terrible epidemic if it was not controlled. He said:
“Wells are dug beside suck away and people take water from these wells to fill polythene bags ready for sale to people for consumption. It is that dangerous.”
He argued that for the sake of the public’s health it was important that the sources through which people contract diseases were blocked. He said he supported the motion so that law enforcement agencies would be compelled to go out and ensure all unregistered manufacturers of pure water were forced out of business.