ATWAP educates members on importance of GMPs

NIGERIA – The Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), has got the ball rolling on the sensitization of its members on the need to continue to adhere to global best practices and good manufacturing practices (GMP).

ATWAP was formed in the late 90s to protect the interest of water producers and present a common front to statutory government agencies in Nigeria.

The enlightenment campaign was flagged off in Abuja, the nation’s capital by the National President of the body, Dame Clementine Chinwe Ativie during her meeting with the executives of the North Central Zone comprising of Benue, Plateu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger States and the FCT.

The ATWAP President who underpinned that water producers had in no small measure contributed to the repression of water borne diseases by adhering to good manufacturing practice, assured members of the public that the producers would continue to strive to keep to standards.

Mrs. Ativie however informed the participants that the sensitization efforts on self-regulation were in line with the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control’s, ( NAFDAC’s) call for improved GMP in water production facilities. She added that the command was pushed by the recent cholera outbreak in some states of the federation.

She also charged the executive members of each state, to prepare for the upcoming training being packaged by ATWAP which the time table according to her, would be rolled out very soon. Further, the president noted that the executive members of the association were specifically invited for the important meeting so they could carry on the good message to water producers in their various states.

The self-regulatory programme of the association will entail a detailed training of factory owners and their production managers on global best practices. Mrs. Ativie added that the trainings would be mandatory for all factories and shall be conducted twice yearly in all the 36 states of the federation and FCT.

ATWAP had earlier partnered with NAFDAC to adopt methods on  purification of table water in Nasarawa State. The association had also teamed up with the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) to collaborate on standards that would eventually force fake water producers out of the business.