Professionals in research, testing, calibration, education, and manufacturing laboratories have raised concerns over weak regulation of sachet water production in Iseyin and the Oke-Ogun areas of Oyo State, urging both federal and state governments to improve oversight and welfare for laboratory workers.
The concerns were highlighted during the 2026 World Laboratory Day held in Iseyin, organised by Lab21 Services Limited and the Association of Analytical and Calibration Laboratory Directors, with the theme, “Rethinking the Role of Laboratories in Global Health and Development.”
Participants blamed regulatory gaps on agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, and relevant health ministries.
Chairman of the occasion and CEO of BEREKOTRY Ltd, Taslim Owonikoko, called on governments to prioritise improved remuneration for laboratory personnel to curb the growing migration of skilled workers abroad.
He stressed that laboratory professionals are critical to sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and education, warning that continued brain drain could worsen existing challenges.
Also speaking, Femi Oyediran, CEO of BEREKOTRY Ltd and organiser of the event, urged regulators to strengthen monitoring of consumables like sachet water across Iseyin, Oke-Ogun, and the wider state.
He noted that current regulatory checks by agencies are often limited to certification cycles, with little or no follow-up inspections, a gap he linked to rising cases of waterborne diseases in affected communities.
Oyediran advocated routine quality checks for manufacturers, especially water producers, and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to improve public health outcomes.
He added that enhanced cooperation across sectors would support human, environmental, and food safety, while strengthening global health security.