The Delta State Government has moved to address complaints by members of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) over alleged extortion, excessive regulatory demands and threats of business closures by officials of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in the state.
The Commissioner Bureau for Special Duties, Mr.Ejiro Etagherure, gave the assurance on Thursday when he received members of the Association in Delta State, who staged a peaceful protest at the Government House gate, Asaba, to register their grievances over alleged harassment and extortion by officials of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the state government, Mr. Etagherure said the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was committed to protecting residents and business owners from oppression, assuring the protesters that their complaints would be thoroughly examined.
“We all know the importance of water to human beings, and I can also assure us here that our governor is a governor that will not accept oppression because he is a governor for all, and we can all attest to that,” he said.
The commissioner said the documents and other information submitted by the association would be received and reviewed by the government, adding that the administration would intervene in the matter with a view to finding an amicable resolution.
“Your prayers have been heard. Whatever information you’ve got in there, we will be looked into. On behalf of the governor and the state government, we assure you we’ll come into this issue and it will be resolved amicably”, he said.
Mr. Etagherure also commended the producers for conducting themselves peacefully during the protest, describing their approach as responsible.
“I also want to thank you for your peaceful demonstration,” he said, assuring them that the government would get back to them after examining the issues raised.
Earlier, Chairman of ATWAP, Delta State chapter, Mr. Mark Evans, appealed to the state government to intervene in what he described as mounting undue regulatory pressure on table water producers across the state.
Mr. Evans said the association had more than 200 pure and table water producers operating in Delta, providing employment for between 10,000 and 11,000 workers.
He explained that the businesses were already subject to regulatory supervision by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which, he said, inspects production facilities before operations commence and conducts periodic inspections to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
According to him, the association became alarmed when the SON officials in the state allegedly began issuing various demand notices to members and compelling them to make payments under duress.
Evans further alleged that some of the payments demanded from producers were directed into a personal bank account, a development he said had heightened the association’s concerns.
“We have relevant receipts and documents. She gives you an account number; you transfer to a personal account because of the fear of not closing down your factory,” he alleged.
Evans said the association was particularly concerned by an alleged claim that Delta had been selected as a “pilot state” for the enforcement of the requirements. Repeated requests for documentary evidence authorising such a pilot programme had not yielded any result.
