Water is everywhere but scarce and comes with a price. Packaged water both in plastic and sachet could cost more. Economics describe this as paradox of value. Producers of packaged water in Nigeria have lamented the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of raw materials on their businesses.
The Chairman of the Water Producers Association of Nigeria, Ebere Ibeawuchi, at a programme on World Water Day held in Lagos describes the situation as worrisome especially after the Covid-19 outbreak.
He said the cost of importing materials to produce water was on the high side and foreign exchange had been a debilitating factor in the business.
The National President of Association of Table Waters Producers of Nigeria, Clementina Chinwe, in an interview with The Punch said, “If we disclose the price of what it takes us to produce water, in fact, 99 per cent of Nigerians would not be able to afford it.
“Table water is currently sold for N70. In the past, we used N480,000 materials to produce a ton. As I am talking to you now, we are buying those materials at N1.5m. So, tell me why we can’t increase the price?”
Source: Standard Gazette