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Nigeria: Crisis of Satchet Water Consumption
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Daily Champion (Lagos)
27 March 2008
Posted to the web 27 March 2008
Tunbosun Ogundare
Lagos
The recent hike in the cost of satchet water from N5.00 to N10.00 came too suddenly and took most people unawares, including some of the marketers.
Azeez Adeboye, a 14 - year- old boy who hawks pure water at Idumota, on Lagos Island, could not explain the cause of the hundred percent hike in the commodity but stresed that he now buys the satchets of "pure water" at a higher price and makes much more profits from the sale than before.
Most of the consumers were not only surprised at the hike but angered, arguing that if the price of any consumer product is to be jerked up, it shouldn't be that of satchet water. Some vowed that as long as the price remain N10.00, they would never have anything to do with the product.
However, some people have resigned to fate, believing that price increase or not, they can't avoid the consumption of satchet water and that the product have become somewhat indispensible, particularly among low income people.
"One is bound to be thirsty anytime and this could happen anywhere. In such a case, there is no other solution than to cool yourself with a satchet of "cold pure water," said Engineer Nnamdi Anyanele, an electrical engineer at Alaba international market, Ojo Lagos.
Anyanele told Daily Champion that he takes an average of four satchets of the product daily because of the present hot temperature. He stated that since he could not afford the bottled ones due to high prices, he goes for the popular satchet water.
" The only thing is that I don't just buy any type in the market, but NAFDAC approved products.I don't take chances with my health."he said.
Augustine Omilo, head of training and support services, Management System Associates, is another Nigerian who has accepted the N10,00 new price. He told the story of how he was trapped in a serious traffic jam and became very thirsty, with no option than to satisfy his thirst with two satchets of "cold pure water."
A student of Fagba Grammar school, Iju, who introduced herself as Shola, said she finds it impossible not to take at least a satchet of pure water while in school. "Before now I used to take between two or three satchets but I have reduced the number to only one. Anything more than that, will shortens my transport fare."
Nduka Onyeali, a photographer known popularly as Manix Photos who is based at White House Bus Stop, Kemberi road, Okokomaiko in Ojo area of Lagos State, is yet to come to term with the new price and has resolved to shun the consumption of satchet water, at least for now. According to him, it is not worth it to part with N10 for just a 60cl of satchet water.
Sharing this view is Madam Veronica Ajibade, a secretary with a distillery Company in Lagos. The mother of two said she doesn't patronise the product, noting that in her office, there is a enough distilled water stored for members of staff in the company's canteen..
On his part, Mr. Abayomi Arogundade, a public relations consultant said his family members are greatly affected by the hike. According to him, pure water has become the family's only source of drinkable water for the past three years. He disclosed that there's no portable water nor bore hole in the whole of his area.
"I buy in bags at wholesale price, but now that the price has gone up, I have drastically reduced the quantity", says Abayomi.
Eze Nwabueze Ohazulike, Chairman, Tokas Water Nigeria Limited told Daily Champion that the price increment on satchet water was necessitated by increasing cost of production.
According to him, producers of pure water did not just jump to the conclusion of increasing the price but took the action because of the persistent rise in the cost of materials, particularly cellophane, which are imported into the country. The same quantity of cellophane, he explained, that cost N110 in about four years ago, is sold today for N400.00
Ohazulike, the Eze Ndigbo in Lagos State said it is high time people understand the reality of our economy.
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"Some people seem not to realise that so many production factors are put into consideration to produce a single satchet of "pure water", says the royal father.
Part of these, he said, include the high cost of operating generator as well as the gas to power the machines and workers' remuneration. He also noted that a sachet may not have cost up to N10.00 but between N6 and N8, if Nigerians are to accept coins as a means of payment.
This royal father who is the Patron of Association of Table Water Producers, Lagos State chapter, dismissed the popular notion that pure water business is what one can do successfully in a room's corner, or something that can be started with only a few thousands of naira.
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Why have we all refused to tell ourselves the truth? typical Nigerians we are indeed. the increase in price of a single sachet of pure water in nigeria is not completely because of the increase in production materials,its is also not because the producers of this patriotic commodity have all of a sudden gotten greedy. the real reason for this fat round 10naira is the fact that the coin is valueless to we nigerians. of a truth,the cost of production of materials to produce pure water has increased greatly,but according to calculated statistics,pure water can still be sold at a... [Read Full Text]
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