By Correspondent in Lokoja.
Consumers of table water, popularly called pure water in kogi state may soon sigh a relieve as members of the State chapter of the Association of Table Water Producers have agreed to go back to the drawing board to review downward the 100 per cent price rise they recently announced on the commodity.
Our Correspondent reports that the the association relaxed on the implementation of the new price hike which could have raised one sachet of the water from N10.00 to N20.00 and a bag from N140.00 to N200.00.
However, the interface of the Commissioner for Water Resources,Dr Abdulmumin Danga with the officials of the association in Lokoja put a hold to the decision.
The Reporters further reports that after series of questions from the Commissioner, during the dialogue on why the sudden hike in price of the table Water, the Chairman of the Association, Joseph Essenyi, said the decision of the association was based on the high cost of production and the exchange of naira to dollar.
Danga, who appreciated the members for highlighting various challenges facing them in the business, however, emphasized that the hike in the price of table had been “causing more damages to the populace than what the Water is meant to serve”.
The Commissioner,who said that he was conscious of the fact that prices of materials and machines were higher than what the producers of the commodity used to buy, due to the exchange of dollar to naira, however urged them to look critically into the price that would “be moderate to offer to the populace.”
Responding,Essenyi promised to summon his executives for a meeting,where the agreement for the downward review of the price of the commodity, including the price sold by retailers; the major distributors of the commodity, would be taken.
Other attendees at the meeting include: Engr. Kayode Ayodele Director of Water, Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Audu Ali, Financial Secretary, Muhammed Baba Zonal Coordinator and Momoh O. Moses State PRO anong others.
