As part of efforts in ensuring safe drinking water comsumption in the State with the view to sanitize the industry of quacks, Rivers State goverment has again conducted a two day participatory  training for Water Service Providers.
Speaking at the event in Port-Harcourt under the theme “ Water Quality Management And Regulatory Compliance “, Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Prof Kaniye Ebeku stated that  the training will enable the participants have a better understanding of the laws that govern the water sector in Rivers State, which is a prerequisite for being licenced as service provider in the State.
In his words “Rivers State Government places high premium on her citizenry and visitors.Therefore, the abstraction, production and distribution of portable water and even waste water is of great concern to the Wike led administration, hence he has directed me to ensure sanity in the water sector, he added”
Ebeku admitted that the  State government is aware of some illegal factories who are operating in the State with fake NAFDAC number,  in one room facility and stated that the training will give such persons an opportunity to learn how to produce, package and sell portable water in the State.
Prof Kaniye Ebeku further maintained that ‘water is life, without gender, race, ethnic colouration and that any error in the sector will affect the entire population, hence we must get it right”, he said.
He cited WHO research findings which disclosed that water related disease amount for 4.1% estimated cases of global disease burden and cause about 1.8million death annually with 88% which is attributed to unsafe water supply, sanitation and poor personal hygiene.
The Water Resources and Rural Development Commissioner expreses hope that the knowledge gain from the training/workshop will birth sustainable operations while producing portable water in the State and enjoined them to  report any factory disobeying the order and lowering the standards.
The two day participatory training workshop organised by Rivers State Water Services Regulatory Commission under the direct supervision of the Commissioner in pursuant to the Rivers State Water Sector development law no. 7, 2012 to upgrade their performance and protect public health also had practical sessions where participants were made to test their water themselves.
Responding, the State Chairman, Association of Table Water Producers, (ATWAP)Pst Okey Okafor  expressed gratitude to the Commissioner on behalf of his colleagues for the training which he said that every stage of the training was brilliant and an eye opener which they will replicate in their operations as there are silence aspect of the industry that the training bought to the fore.

By: John Bibor