President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has challenged the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) to increase investment, strengthen industrial production and create more employment opportunities as the company marks 75 years of operations in Nigeria.
Tinubu delivered the message at NBC’s 75th anniversary gala in Abuja, where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
The president commended the company’s seven-decade contribution to Nigeria’s economy while urging it to build on its existing footprint.
He said the government expected the company’s next chapter to deliver greater investment, stronger industries, better jobs, deeper local production and increased opportunities for Nigerians.
Tinubu’s remarks came as his administration seeks to attract more domestic and foreign investment into Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
The Nigerian Bottling Company, a member of the Coca-Cola HBC Group, has maintained a major presence in Nigeria’s consumer-goods sector for decades.
The anniversary therefore provided an opportunity for the Federal Government to highlight the role of established multinational companies in expanding domestic production and creating employment.
The president’s call also comes at a time when manufacturers continue to contend with high production costs, infrastructure challenges and foreign-exchange pressures.
For the administration, encouraging companies with established operations in Nigeria to expand investment is part of the broader strategy to strengthen domestic production and reduce economic dependence on imports.
NBC’s 75-year presence in Nigeria, meanwhile, places it among the country’s longest-established multinational manufacturing operations.