President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the N5.6 billion
Nestle Waters factory in Abaji, Abuja, with a promise to
make Nigeria an investment destination in Africa.
Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the President
said that the construction of the factory demonstrated the
robustness of the nation’s economy and expressed the hope
that the event would further stimulate growth.
He thanked Nestle Foods Company for pioneering the
industrialisation of the rural communities in the country
noting that the occasion reflected the importance of Nigeria
as an investment destination.
The President said that such effort also was a contribution
to the determination of the Federal Government to diversify
the economy and promised that the administration would
provide the enabling environment for private sector
enterprises to thrive.
Mr. Buhari noted that the world would be a better place if
every organisation focused on what it could do for its host
communities.
According to him the administration had identified and put
in place six critical areas in the 2016 budget to drive
economic growth.
He said that the Federal Government would partner the
private sector in business growth adding that the
administration was proud of the resilience and effort of the
private sector to the keep the economy on the right path.
The Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, represented by
Salisu Abdulsalam, said that he was happy that the dream
of making Abuja an industrial hub was becoming a reality.
He said the facility would provide means of livelihood to the
residents of Abuja adding that the territory would remain an
investment choice.
The Minister appealed to other investors to take advantage
of easy access to land, tax holidays and peaceful
environment to invest in the territory.
In a welcome address, the Managing Director of Nestle
Nigeria, Dharnesh Gordhon, said that the factory was the
company’s third in Nigeria, first major investment in the
North, and the most modern water processing factory in
Central and West Africa.
According to him the company will continue to believe in
the country as well as in the business opportunities as
Nigeria remains Africa’s investment destination of choice.
The Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, David
Ifezulike, thanked the Bank of Industry for providing the
long term financial support to establish the factory as well
as supporting the expansion of the company’s cereal and
culinary plants in its Agbara, Ogun, factory.
While noting that Nestle factories drove rural development,
the chairman said the company was proud to spread the
climate of progress to Abaji and leave another notable
landmark on the Abuja industrial landscape.
The Executive Vice President of Nestle S.A., Marco
Settembri, said that the organisation was “committed to
helping people lead healthier lives as water is surely the
best way to fulfill daily hydration needs.
He acknowledged the responsibilities facing the company in
the new community and promised to ensure better water
utilisation and waste management, ensure sustainability of
water supply and raising children’s awareness about
healthy hydration and water conservation.
He further promised to create jobs as well as contribute to
develop technical competencies locally by establishing a
technical training centre for the youth in Abaji.
The Country Manager of Nestle, Jason Lambe, observed
that the investment of N5.6 billion along with the
company’s future investment plans showed its commitment
to growing Africa’s largest economy.
The Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Eric Mayoraz,
underscored the importance of the economic and diplomatic
relations between his country and Nigeria which facilitated
the sighting of the project.
building and education programmes in Nigeria and would
offer five new scholarships to Nigerians.
Newsmen report that Nestle had done business in Nigeria
for 55 years while the Abaji factory would create 111 new
jobs and produce its Nestle Pure Life water.
(source:radionigeria)
