The National President of the Hygienic Water Producers Association of Nigeria (HWAPAN), Odiri Egberi, has said prices of packaged water, including sachet and table water, have increased in some states across the country.
Speaking to the Peoples Gazette on Sunday, Mr Egberi stated that a bag of sachet water otherwise called pure water in Lagos, Kano and Kwara states, have increased from N400 to at least N500 or a bit less.
He said that a kilogram of the water nylon which used to be N3,200, before the U.S.-Israel war agaisnt Iran has soared to N4,850.
Mr Egberi said, “Yes, the price of a bag of pure water has increased, but the price varies from different states. In Lagos, Kano and Kwara states, you should be looking at N500 or thereabout, from N400.
Before this (Israel-Iran) war started, we were buying a kilogram of water nylon for N3,200. But right now, it’s close to N5,000, precisely N4,850, depending on the state.
“I was speaking with the Edo State chairman of our association three days ago, he told me a kg of the nylon in Edo State, is now N5,200. Here in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, it’s N4,850 and N4,900 depending on where it’s bought.
The nylon comes in plain sheets, so we only print our company names on it. The price increases took effect in the second week of March.”
The HWAPAN boss also stated that the price of plastic water had increased in some states, explaining that the price of a bag containing 20 plastic 50cl bottles, in Delta State, rose to N2,200 from N1,900, while in Rivers State, same quality 50cl plastic bottles, formerly sold for N1,300, is now N1,500.
“The price of table water has also increased, depending on the state and packaging. Like in some states, they package by 20, some by 12 and others by 24. The prices varies but it’s between N1,400 to N2,500 for a pack of 12 and 20. In Delta State, a bag of 20, like 50cl is N2,200 from N1,900. In Rivers State, 50cl goes for N1,300 before, now it’s N1,500.
“In terms of brands, there are some brands that theirs are expensive. It depends on the producer, the value you attach to your product will determine the price you sell it.”
A market survey by The Gazette on Monday showed that while the price of a bag of sachet water in some parts of Alagbado, Ogun State, has reduced to N350, other areas still retain the N400 price.
In Lagos however, the price has been increased to between N500 and N600. In Oyo State, a bag of sachet water has increased from N300 to N420.
Though a trader identified only as Mama Shewa, in Agbado Oja, Alagbado area of Ogun State, said, “Since last week, pure water (bag), is now N350, no more N400,” which is a N50 decrease; but at Kola, Alagbado part of Lagos, another trader, Chidera Umoh, said, “It’s been N500 since. I don’t know where they sell a bag less than N500 now.
For table water, I have one that’s N1,200 and another one for N1,300 per pack. No price increased on that one.
However, in Oshodi area of Lagos State, traders sold a bag of water between N500 and N600, while the price of a pack of plastic table water has increased from N1,200 to between N1,300 and N1,600.
A trader in the marker, Lucky Eze, said, “One bag of pure water is N600, table water is N1,600.” But another trader who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Our bag of pure water is N500, but table water pack was N1,200 but since last month, my oga said I should start selling it N1,300.”
Some customers in Lagos State decried the hike, saying that many parts of the state don’t have tap water and most landlords don’t allow tenants use their boreholes because of the cost of fuel.
A resident in Ijaiye, Bada Debola, said “To avoid wasting N400 on pure water, I use to fetch water every two days from the house of one of our neighbours that has a borehole.
But since two weeks now, they did not allow us because tenants in the house contribute money for fuel buy fuel to power the pumping machine and power supply is erratic. So, I decided to be buying pure water, only for me to be told that a bag is now N500.”
Another resident in Ahmadiya, Isiaka Rafiu, said, “I use to buy 10 bags once in two weeks. We are four: Myself, my wife and two children. But since the increase, I have reduced it to six bags. Nobody drinks water anyhow in my house again. I have warned my family members.”
A commercial tricycle rider, Ope Balogun, said that a bag of sachet water has increased in his neighbourhood.
He stated, “Things keep increasing and and one can’t afford many things now.”
On his part, a resident of Ologuneru in Ibadan, Oyo State, Banjoko Adedoja, said a bag of sachet water used to be N300 but was increased to N420 last week.
He said, “I used to buy 10 bags of sachet water for two weeks. I got a big shock when the supplier told me about the increase when I handed over my money to him. It was immediate and since I had a budget for it, I reduced it to five bags. In fact, three sachet used to be four or three for N100 if it’s not cold depending on the saler.
It was three sachet if it’s cold. But now, whether it’s cold or not, it’s two for N100.”
However, Mr Egberi explained that as prices of water nylon and the packaged water vary from state to state, some had yet to change their current prices.
He noted that as the economy bites harder, they would eventually do so because it was sustainable and there were ongoing discussons among them on the development.
He stated, “The increment is unfolding state by state, depending on when the producers finally agree on the modalities to implement the price increase.
So, we allow states to take decisions independently, we don’t impose price from the national body because we cannot tell what they are facing in each state. So, it depends on the cost of production per state.”
