NBC Expands Manufacturing Footprint
Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd., a key player in consumer packaged goods and a member of the Coca-Cola HBC Group, has officially commissioned three new production lines. Two of these lines are located at its Asejire plant in Oyo State, with the third at its Challawa plant in Kano State.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by Senator John Owan Enoh, Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. This expansion underscores the Coca-Cola System’s commitment to its $1 billion five-year investment programme in Nigeria.
The new lines at both Asejire and Challawa are described as world-class, equipped with advanced bottling technology. The Challawa facility, which has been central to NBC’s Kano operations since 1982, is further strengthened by this addition. These investments reinforce NBC’s manufacturing presence across the country, building on decades of sustained industrial growth.
Long-Term Investment and Economic Impact
Goran Sladic, Managing Director of NBC, highlighted the investments as a statement of long-term conviction. He noted that NBC has been integral to Nigeria’s growth for 75 years, since 1951, through investments in people, infrastructure, and manufacturing capabilities.
Sladic stated that the new production lines are proof of what is achievable with an enabling policy environment. He affirmed NBC’s intention to remain a part of Nigeria’s story for the next 75 years and beyond. These lines represent the first phase of a nationwide programme, with further capacity additions planned across NBC’s plants in 2026.
These recent investments build upon more than US$1.5 billion already invested across NBC’s Nigerian operations over the past decade. The Coca-Cola System’s long-term investment plans for Nigeria, announced in 2024, aim for up to US$1 billion over the next five years, contingent on a predictable business environment.
Beyond plant and machinery, the Coca-Cola System’s investment in Nigeria has significant economic contributions. A 2024 socio-economic impact study by global consulting firm Steward Redqueen indicated that the System generated $1 billion in value-added economic activity. It also supported over 160,000 livelihoods across its value chain, translating to 53 jobs across Nigeria for every single direct job within the System itself.
In 2024, the System sourced $601 million worth of goods and services from Nigerian suppliers, demonstrating a deep level of local integration. Senator John Owan Enoh praised NBC’s 75-year presence, describing it as an argument for believing in Nigeria, made through tangible investments and sustained across three generations.
During the ceremony, NBC also unveiled its 75th Anniversary Commemorative Product Label, a limited-edition label presented by the Managing Director to the Minister, symbolizing 75 years of refreshing Nigeria.
