Sachet water production in Imo State has been temporarily suspended for three days, causing shortages and price hikes in Owerri and surrounding areas.
The halt, which began on Monday, was reportedly linked to rising production costs, particularly the price of nylon used for packaging.
Residents have expressed frustration over the scarcity and escalating prices, noting that a bag of sachet water that previously sold for ₦350 now goes for around ₦500.
Retail hawkers, who usually sold three sachets for ₦100, were seen selling a single sachet for ₦100 as of Wednesday, March 18, citing reduced supply as the reason.
Some members of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Imo State chapter, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed the shutdown to the increased cost of production, including higher prices of nylon and diesel used to power generators.
One source explained, “Due to the ongoing war in Iran, the prices of diesel, fuel, and nylon have increased, and ATWAP members can barely meet up with cost of production.
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“We decided to quietly shut down tools so that people will miss us, and then we can introduce the new price. But we told people that we are doing routine maintenance.”
However, the state Chairman of ATWAP, Bismark Lumanze, denied that the producers were on strike, insisting that the temporary closure was part of routine factory maintenance.
“No, we are not on strike, but on agreed routine maintenance of our factories to ensure we produce clean and safe water,” Lumanze said.
He added, “We had already increased the prices of table water and pure water before the three-day mandatory break for maintenance. So it’s not true that we are on strike. However, business supplies will resume from Thursday 12 am.”
Lumanze explained that the maintenance exercise allows operators to clean machines, replace filters, and service production facilities, thereby promoting hygiene and ensuring quality output.
He also highlighted ongoing regulatory pressures on the sector, including allegations linking sachet water production to environmental pollution and legislative moves by the National Assembly aimed at standardizing operations in the industry.
ATWAP assured consumers that production would resume immediately after the three-day maintenance period and that the adjusted prices had already been implemented across the state.