BY REPORTER
To mark 70 years of the Coca-Cola system in Nigeria, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd and the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) have jointly revealed plans to invest N560 billion, roughly $1.3 billion, over the next five years.
The announcement was made on Thursday at a press briefing in Ikeja. NBC Managing Director Mathieu Seguin explained that the company’s investments in Nigeria are intentional and aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians. According to him:
“We have put $1.7 billion into this country since 2007, and a further N560 billion will now go into our Nigerian operations. Over the past five years alone, the Coca-Cola system has helped create 58,000 jobs across its value chain.
“As we expand, we remain purposeful about investing substantially to benefit the communities where we operate. Our business can only be as sustainable as the communities we serve, which is why sustainability is built into every part of what we do…”
The Coca-Cola system in Nigeria, made up of NBC and Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, began operations in 1951. Over the decades, it has become a leading name in the soft-drinks industry. It now runs about eight manufacturing plants nationwide, supported by more than 7,000 dealers and an extensive distribution network.
A wide range of activities has been scheduled to celebrate the brand’s long and successful presence in Nigeria, and the anniversary festivities will continue through the rest of the year.