In a fresh attempt to revive its industrial sector, the Benue State Government has issued a 90-day ultimatum to Nigerian Breweries Plc to resume full production at its plant in Makurdi, the state capital.
The Managing Director of the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, issued the ultimatum during an interactive session with representatives from the Nigerian Breweries on Wednesday, at the BIPC corporate headquarters in Makurdi.
He expressed the State Government’s eagerness to see companies operating in Benue return to full production, stating that the state has abundant raw materials such as sorghum, as well as a readily available workforce to support the brewery’s operations.
The Managing Director also highlighted the state’s efforts to create a more business-friendly environment, including the introduction of a one-stop shop for ease of doing business and the offer of tax holidays to incentivize investors.
“The state has introduced easy ways of doing business with a one-stop shop. So, with tax holidays, it is important for you to quickly return to production,” he said.
According to him, Nigerian Breweries failed to utilise the backward integration that would have transformed Benue farmers but rather chose Kaduna State despite the fertile land the state has for sorghum cultivation.
Speaking further, Asemakaha said the “Benue State Government’s initiative to revive its industrial sector and attract investment underscores its commitment to economic development and job creation for its citizens.”
In her response, the Corporate Affairs Manager covering the East and Middle Belt for Nigerian Breweries Plc, Joy Egolum, acknowledged the efforts of the Benue State Government and expressed the company’s willingness to consider the incentives offered.
She, however, noted the challenges associated with the immediate resumption of operations, stating that even routine maintenance can be time-consuming.
“We don’t need a 90-day ultimatum. Anyone who runs a production line will agree with me that doing maintenance takes a longer time. So, it is not possible for us to commence production within that time frame. We understand how passionate you are and we will get a response before the 90 days and proceed from there,” she assured.
