Nestle Plc

President Muhammadu Buhari  now in China, sent Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo  on Thursday to the inauguration of  the N5.6 billion Nestle Waters factory in Abaji, FCT, with a promise to make Nigeria an investment destination in Africa.

In the message delivered by Osinbajo,   Buhari 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 the 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 Federal Government will continue to encourage the private sector by providing market stability, providing the necessary infrastructure and micro economic policies for business,’’ he said.

Buhari noted that the world would be a better place if every organisation focused on what it could do for its host communities.

“We are glad this supports the government`s policy on employment generation and wealth creation.’’

According to him the administration had identified and put in place six critical areas in the 2016 budget to drive economic growth.

Accordingly, 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, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, represented by Mr 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 the FCT 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, Mr 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.

“It underpins our strong belief in the potential of the local market and the resilience of Nigerian economy in spite of the current difficult and volatile business environment,’’ he said.

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, Mr 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.