The Coca-Cola company investments in Nigeria gross US$1.7 billion in ten years
Facts have emerged that The Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company’s investments in Nigeria in the last one decade have exceeded over 1.7 billion US dollars.
The company has also given assurance that it is even more committed to further boosting its investment portfolio in the years ahead with a view to promoting the nation’s economic growth through sustained investments and improved capacity utilization.
Board Chairman, Nigeria Bottling Company, NBC Limited, Mr. Segun Apata disclosed this in Lagos during a media chat. He said that the iconic brand has contributed to the nation’s economy in the last 70 years, noting that the business has expanded tremendously into other aspects of production which has impacted significantly on the economy.
In his words: “We are the only manufacturer with hot-fill line in the country. What is most impressive is the US$1.7 billion investment that our Parent Company, Coca-Cola Hellenic poured into the country in the last ten years (2011-2021). Before the investment that is in 2010, we produced about 180 million unit cases and nine years later, with the investment, we closed out 2020 with over 300 million unit cases.”
Mr. Apata who reaffirmed the company’s determination to increase investment in Nigeria revealed that the company has moved from one line plant and two line plants to huge plants in different parts of the country.
He said, “The Minister of the Federal capital Territory has just commissioned the 5th line in our Abuja plant which is accidentally the fastest line and the line with the biggest capacity in plant. It produces 42 thousand bottles per hour. The same achievement has been recorded in Benin, Port Harcourt, Kano, Owerri and Asejire. We are expanding our Maiduguri plant.”
Mr. Apata revealed that plans to increase the production capacity of all the plants is in top gear noting that Ikeja plant being the largest plant in Africa may soon be surpassed by other plants as a result of the expansion work.
Speaking about how the company has fared in the northern part of the country in the wake of rising insecurity, the company helmsman stated that the company remained resolute in serving the Nigerian populace in spite of the challenges.
According to him, “We have never closed down in spite of the challenges in that part of the country. We are the only manufacturer in Maiduguri which has never closed down operations. Maiduguri is special, expansion of Maiduguri commenced three years ago and we are poised to accelerate it”.
The NBC boss explained that as part of efforts to improve on human capacity, the company will also focus on human development as the training of its personnel is vital to the success of the business.
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