Benin City is facing a water crisis as water producers in the city have gone on strike, leading to scarcity of sachet and bottle water. The situation has prompted retailers to hike the price of a bag of sachet water, posing a threat to the well-being of residents in the city.
The strike, which was earlier announced by sachet and bottle water producers, followed a series of events in recent weeks, of which the halt in water distribution to retail outlets has forced residents to resort to unhygienic alternatives for their water needs.
Our findings show that along Airport Road, some retail outlets sell a bag of Notre Dame and Ivie sachet water for N500; and Noren sachet water for N700. Others are selling at prices ranging from N350 to N400 per bag, a significant increase from the former price of N300.
The chairman of the Association of Table Water Producers in Edo State, Michael Ogbebor, on the Independent Television (ITV) expressed frustration over multiple taxes, especially the newly introduced one thousand naira per truck per day policy. He warned of a potential increase in prices of bottle and sachet water if the issue persists, emphasizing the financial strain on companies ensuring safe water production and delivery.
“We pay taxes to various ministries and we wonder why we are still being made to pay N1000 every day,” he said, noting that the distribution of water is to ensure it gets to every home because consumers need safe products.
“Apart from paying other taxes, companies have other financial burdens to guarantee safe production and delivery to different homes. There are companies that have 4 vehicles, 5, 6 or even 10 vehicles. If these companies are to pay N1000 per truck every day, if you have up to fifty trucks, then you will be paying N50,000. Now multiply this by 26 or 28 days in the month,” he emphasized.
The chairman said they are employers of labour and he pleaded with the government to do something about it and if nothing is done, they may be forced to increase the price they sell their products.
“We are appealing to the government of the day to please talk to them to please stay away from our trucks and let us do our business in peace. I do not know how we will accommodate this amount without the price of water being raised,” he stated.
Speaking with affected water producers, the CEO of Clegie Table Water, Benedict Aigbedion revealed, “The strike action is due to the fact that they are trying to impose a certain amount of levy on our vehicles.
“There was an emergency meeting on Monday, January 15, 2024. The Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) planned to meet with the state government to address the issue of increased levies, after which they will get back to other water factories. We pay a certain levy every year which includes the haulage fee and now the government is demanding for haulage fee (ticket) daily which is too much. ”
Furthermore, a source from Noren Table Water, opting for anonymity, decried the imposition of a daily levy by the government. She stated, “The government came out with a levy that each water company must pay N1000 per truck every day. For example, if you are taking 4 trucks out then you will pay N4000. “The company is already paying taxes to the government every year and weekly individual tax as well the additional N1000 addition is just too much. The association has issued a press statement that we will not produce anything until the issue is settled and every factory is serious about it as no company will produce any water until further notice.
“The cost of production has risen, along with expenses for diesel and transportation fuel. This additional fee is burdensome, potentially driving the cost of a sachet of water to N50, a significant concern for consumers,” she noted. Also, an insider from FP Columbus Table Water added that the price of raw materials used like the packing bags have all gone up, adding to the reason for the on-going strike.
Water retailers in Benin City are feeling the impact of the strike. Victoria Omorogbe shared that the recent development has affected her business because water factories did not supply her water as on Monday, “I usually buy 10 bags to sell which is N3000. Though I heard about the strike, I thought the government would settle it quickly because this is water we are talking about. Now, I do not have much to sell because no one has supplied me and my customers are requesting for water. This strike will be very bad if not attended to.”
Highlighting the challenge of meeting customers’ demand. another retailer, Kehinde Lawal, lamented the timing of the crisis, noting the hot weather and potential price increases that could force people to boil water.”
Consumers are also dealing with the consequences. Of the new development Godblessing Okhueleigbe, a resident, expressed concern over the increased price of water, saying, “If they are really on strike then I will just continue my tap water because I hardly have enough money to buy one bag which was formally N300. Now, I wanted to buy and I was told a bag was N500. I am usually very thirsty and I drink about 6 to 7 sachets in a day, that is a lot already. Water is life and I plead that they should not deprive us of life”.
