The hall buzzed with anticipation as members of the Hygienic Water Producers Association of Nigeria (HWAPAN), Lagos State chapter, gathered for their long-awaited Third Annual General Meeting. It had been three years since the last AGM, and though the 2023 convention in Port Harcourt had brought producers together, the absence of a meeting in 2024 left a vacuum. Now, in 2025, the family of water producers reunited with renewed energy and determination.
The Challenges of the Year
The business year had been described as “rosy but with thorns.” Producers faced existential challenges, particularly the Lagos State government’s push to ban nylon below 40 microns — a move that threatened the very packaging of sachet water. Navigating this policy was no easy task, but HWAPAN stood firm. Through dialogue and persistence, the association secured its place in the Lagos Waste Management Scheme, agreeing to contribute to the Plastic Waste Management Fund to ensure responsible disposal of plastics.
It was a compromise that some members initially resisted, but as the Chairman, Rev. Ebere S. Ibeawuchi, reminded them: “It is our business to safeguard our business.”
A Unified Voice on Pricing
Pricing was another thorny issue. With rising costs of raw materials, factory operations, and labor, producers reaffirmed that the minimum price of a bag of water must remain ₦400. “Water may be free,” explained Mrs. Oyeniran Mariam of Badagry, “but packaging, printing, transport, and factory work are not.”
Madam Stella of Alimosho echoed this sentiment, urging consumers to avoid unsafe water and to value hygienic production: “Don’t buy water that can cause cholera. Buy good water — a bag costs ₦400.”
Growth and Expansion
HWAPAN Lagos proudly announced its expansion to 12 recognized areas, including the newly added Alimosho 3. With presence in Kosofe, Shomolu-Bariga, Yaba, Mushin, Surulere, Apapa, Amuwo-Oriade, Badagry, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos Island, and more, the association declared: “Lagos is now HWAPAN.”
Beyond numbers, the association emphasized that membership was about commitment, not size. “No producer is bigger or smaller. All opinions count. Injury to one is injury to all,” Rev. Ibeawuchi reminded the gathering.
Collaboration with Regulators
The story of HWAPAN’s resilience would be incomplete without its relationship with regulators. NAFDAC and SON were acknowledged as vital partners, offering seminars and guidance to ensure compliance. Producers admitted that ignorance was no longer an excuse — they knew what was required of them, and they were determined to uphold standards.
A New Era
Perhaps the most symbolic moment of the AGM was the unveiling of HWAPAN Lagos’ constitution and byelaws, printed together in a single booklet for the first time. It marked a paradigm shift toward transparency and accountability.
The welfare officer, Mrs. Akanbi of De Authentic Water, captured the spirit of the day: “HWAPAN is living life. From water, we have been giving life.”
As the meeting drew to a close, the message was clear: HWAPAN Lagos was not just surviving — it was thriving. Bound by unity, strengthened by challenges, and guided by purpose, the association looked ahead with optimism.
And so, the story of HWAPAN Lagos in 2025 became one of resilience, collaboration, and the unwavering belief that together, they can always do more.
