Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL) and its authorised bottlers in the country, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Plc, have stated they have no plans to relocate from Nigeria. This statement lays to rest recent false reports making the rounds that the companies were planning to shut down manufacturing operations in Nigeria.
In a statement jointly signed by the CCNL’s General Manager, Mr. Islay Rhind and NBC Plc’s Managing Director, Mr. Roland Ebelt, the two helmsmen stated that neither Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited nor Nigerian Bottling Company Plc has plans of closing its operations and moving to any other West African country as has been suggested.
“Nigeria remains a key market for The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners. We remain focused on ensuring that we can meet the needs of our numerous consumers in Nigeria in the most efficient manner possible and we will continue to make the necessary investments to help us expand our operations and our market share, whilst continuing to support government’s development efforts,” said Rhind and Ebelt.
Over the last few years, the helmsmen noted that huge investments had been made in the construction of an ultra modern bottling plant in the capital city of Abuja, re-construction of the Benin Plant in Edo State, ongoing upgrades of the 13 bottling facilities spread across the country, construction of effluent treatment plants to preserve the environment and introducing the new lightweight and durable ultra glass packaging for core brands and the on-the-go can packaging facilities for the Sparking Soft Drinks (Coke, Fanta and Sprite) products to mention a few.