The Minna branch of the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), on Monday said that it would meet to consider whether or not to increase the price of sachet water based on the economic realities.

Mr Busari Isiaka, the branch Chairman of ATWAP, disclosed this in Minna.

“I cannot tell you now whether we are going to increase the price of sachet water or not.

“The cost of living in the country has increased, so we are going to consider the economic realities on ground before we take any action.”

NAN reports that a bag of sachet water is sold for N100 in Minna while a sachet goes for N10.

Isiaka said that the cost of production has increased as members find it difficult to cope and remain in business.

“The price of our production material has increased in the market.

“Also, it is not easy maintaining and fuelling generator as a result of the epileptic power supply,” he said.

He said that the state government has increased revenue paid by members aside the multiple taxation confronting them from the same government.

The Chairman said that there was the need to harmonize the tax to enable them remain in business.

He lamented the epileptic water supply by the state Water Board, saying that the board has also fixed metres to increase its bill per cubic metre.

“We have resorted to buying water from commercial water tankers at the cost of N13,000 per 10,000 litres,” he said.

Isiaka noted that the Suleja branch of the association has since increased the price of sachet water from N100 to between N200 and N250 per bag as a result of high cost of production.

He said that the Minna branch of the association was still studying the current economic hardship on the public and not to add to the overburden by price increase.

The Chairman appealed to the state government to restore regular water supply to Minna and its environment to lessen the burden of high cost of production.

He called on the government to consider harmonizing the different taxes paid by members to enable them remain in business.

Isiaka said that there was the need for government to consider them for palliatives in form of grants because they supplied free water to security agencies enforcing sit at home order as result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, Mr Sampson Alpha, a resident of Bida, told NAN that a bag of the sachet water was still selling for N80 in the area, while a sachet goes for N5 and N10.

NAN reports that Isiaka is the Managing Director of Pepper Table Water in Minna.