On Sunday, December 1, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) responded to a viral video showing people destroying sachet water packs at factories and on buses. NAFDAC clarified that the individuals in the video were not part of their team and that their actions had nothing to do with the agency.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), NAFDAC said, “Stopping vehicles to destroy products is unprofessional and does not align with any NAFDAC Standard Operating Procedure.”
This clarification came after the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources commissioner, Tokunbo Wahab, claimed on X that the individuals in the video were NAFDAC enforcement officers targeting sachet water that did not meet regulations.
NAFDAC quickly denied this and stressed that it was not involved.
The video, which was posted by an X user named @Pep.Boxx, showed a man using an iron rod to destroy sachet water bags on a truck. The caption read, “Bags of sachet water destroyed in Lagos State,” sparking concerns that the Lagos State Government might have introduced new rules banning sachet water. The video also mentioned the upcoming ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam in Lagos, which is set to begin in January 2025. However, the state government had already clarified in October that the ban would not include sachet water or PET bottles.
What the Lagos Government and NAFDAC Said
The video led to confusion, with some speculating that the destruction of sachet water was part of new government regulations. However, Commissioner Wahab explained that the state government was not involved. He said, “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 Environment and Water Resources. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the individuals in question are enforcement officers from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).”
Despite this statement, NAFDAC quickly denied the involvement of their officials. They clarified that the actions shown in the video did not match their professional standards. “The videos circulating of individuals engaging in enforcement activities are NOT NAFDAC officials or part of our Investigation & Enforcement team,” NAFDAC said.
No Ban on Sachet Water, Says Lagos Government
In his response, Commissioner Wahab emphasized that the Lagos State Government has not banned sachet water and does not plan to. He explained that the government’s focus is on managing plastic waste through innovative strategies, like the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiative, which will be rolled out to tackle plastic waste issues.
“Sachet water remains an essential product, and we are working to regulate its environmental impact while supporting economic activities,” Mr. Wahab said.
Both NAFDAC and the Lagos State Government have condemned the actions in the video, reaffirming their commitment to professional and sustainable practices. However, the confusion surrounding the video has left the public questioning who was responsible for the destruction of the sachet water.
Lagos’s Plastic Waste Management Plan
In addition to the ban on single-use plastics, Mr. Wahab shared that the Lagos State Government is establishing a Plastic Waste Management Fund in partnership with Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) and major importers. This fund, which will be financed by contributions from producers, aims to address the growing plastic waste problem in Lagos.
He also urged residents to ignore rumors about a sachet water ban, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to working with stakeholders to find sustainable solutions for plastic waste management.
