Towards a successful packaged water regulation in Nigeria.

The importance of locally sourced, low-cost alternative drinking water schemes in contributing to increased sustainable access in developing nations cannot be over-emphasized. One of such initiatives in Nigeria, where public drinking water supply is endemic is packaged drinking water sold in sachets. Packaged water if improved upon has been suggested as alternative water provisions that could allow contributions from local initiatives in the drive towards achieving the water target of the Millennium Development Goals. This form of drinking water is easy to get and the price is affordable but people still worry about its purity. Successful regulation of the packaged water industry remains a challenge to the national agency established to enforce compliance with international standards. This study was conducted with a view to proffering recommendations that would enhance successful regulation of Nigeria’s packaged water industry and ultimately improve public health outcomes. Using data obtained from semi-structured interviews with principal office holders of the national regulatory agency, sachet water manufacturers and civil society groups, a rapid needs assessment of the existing regulatory system for packaged drinking water was conducted. Discussed are three major areas that demand prompt intervention- the adopted regulatory approach, collaborative stakeholder partnerships and institutional capacity. A seven-point recommendation is also presented. Opportunities exist for improvements in the current regulatory scheme that could make efficient the regulation of the packaged water industry.