Consumers Protest Hike In Satchet Water Price
BY OMOLOLU KASSIM
CONSUMERS of table water, popularly known as Pure Water, are poised for battle against producers and marketers of the essential commodity.
The 'war' is caused by the recent 100 per cent hike in the unit price from N5 to N10 per satchet.
"They are now fighting our men on the street", said Ms Foluke Bello, the Administrative Officer of Larry Waters, a prominent leader in the industry.
"Area Boys have taken advantage of this protest and they throw our pure water around. This is why we have stopped supply," she said.
Some consumers of the commodity have also boycotted it since the Lagos chapter of the Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP) increased the price on November 1, 2004. Others who found it indispensable simply complied and there had been reported cases of fracas between the sellers and buyers who could not tolerate such an astronomical upward review of the price.
A consumer simply said: "This is Nigeria", suggesting that practically anything is possible in the country and nobody should be surprised.
A roadside seller of the product who preferred anonymity, said: "We sell what we buy. Do you blame us for that?"
On allegations that Larry Waters spearheaded the sharp increase, Bello asked poignantly: "Is Larry Waters the association?"
She explained that the association unanimously decided to hike the price of the product from N5 to N10. "Why should people single out Larry Waters out for a scapegoat?"
In Mushin, social miscreants have declared a total battle against hawkers of pure water who sell at N10.
The story is the same at Ebute Metta and Idumota, in the heart of metropolitan Lagos, where there has been a general discontent of the public against the price increase.
In the wake of the public outcry, ATWAP has decided to return to the roundtable to review the situation.
"We have to wait till Monday when our leaders would have met over this problem before we start supplying our distributors", Bellow said .
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