Acceso usuarios
E.D. Oruonye
The production and sales of sachet water presently plays a major role in the provision of drinkable water and employment opportunities to many different people in different parts of Nigeria. Most studies on sachet water dwells on the quality aspect and the menace of poor disposal of sachet water bags. This study dwells on the livelihood aspect of sachet water vending in urban areas of Nigeria with special reference to Jalingo Metropolis and ways that can improve the services offered by sachet-water vendors that can enable the entrepreneurs to positively contribute to national goals of self-reliance and reduction of poverty. The survey design method which involves the use of interview schedule was used in collecting data for the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The study reveals that the average income from sachet water vending is about N19,500 (US$130) monthly which is above the national minimum wage of N18,500 (US$123.3) recently approved by the Nigerian Government. The result of the study shows that sachet water vending provides very important livelihood opportunities that have been neglected in the study area especially by majority of the unemployed adults. Most of those engaged in sachet water vending are young people who are less than 18 years of age. The study findings shows that most of those engaged in sachet water vending have been able to accomplish meaningful welfare projects for themselves ranging from payment of marriage dowries, building of houses, purchase of motorcycles among other things. This study recommends the need to develop cheap water treatment instruments that will help to improve the quality of sachet water. Also, young unemployed adults should be encouraged to take to sachet water vending even as a temporary means of earning a living instead of staying idle, searching for white collar jobs that do not exist.
