E-Malt.com News article: 2589

Nigeria: Osisioma industrial layout in Aba will witness a historic milestone on May 5, when Guinness Nigeria Plc, will commission its N500 million state-of-the-art brewery, Vanguard Media wrote on May 2.

Chief Adolphus Wabara, President of the Senate, Dr. Orji Kalu, governor of Abia State, his counterparts in Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Ananbra states, Chief Achike Udenwa, Chief Sam Egwu and Dr. Chris Ngige are expected to grace the occasion.

Guinness Aba brewery was the former site of defunct Dubic Brewery which was abandoned for many years before Guinness Nigeria purchased it from the owner, Chief Dike Udensi, formally on January 15th ,2003.With the N500 million investment, the company installed new facilities with a resultant production capacity of 400,000 hectoliters of Malta Guinness per day. Since the commencement of operation in Aba until date, the company has worked with a focus to develop the Aba brewery into its first major production site in Eastern Nigeria.

Guinness Nigeria informed Sunday Business that major changes were carried out on the Washer, Filler, Labellers and Recrater in order to accommodate the small-sized Guinness stout, while most of the other plants were refurbished locally. The company also stated that the Aba brewery would be supervised by competent and well-trained staff to ensure world class standard in brewing technology, at all times.

The company further disclosed that it would embark on expansion of the current capacity ,over time, to produce other Guinness Nigeria brands. “ It is going to be a life journey and partnership with the eastern states. Guinness Nigeria Plc is committed to the move to make Nigeria an industrial giant”, the company pointed out.

The brewery has a waste disposal facility that is the best in brewing technology and certified by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) as well as Abia State Environmental Protection Agency. To show its total commitment towards making the area its industrial constituency, Guinness Nigeria has converted the USD Limited staff to its permanent staff to strengthen operations at the new brewery; which will produce Malta Guinness particularly for the Northern and Eastern parts of the country.

Meanwhile prominent traders and the youths of Aba and the host communities has described the Aba brewery as an investment in people’s economic fortunes because of the crucial economic opportunities it has opened up for the people. Prominent Aba trader, Chief Emeka Odogwu and youths of the community under the umbrella of Uratta Youths Congress, Umu-Ode Congress and Osisioma-Ngwa Congress have expressed happiness at the dramatic economic transformation the various direct and indirect businesses arising from the operation of Guinness Aba brewery will bring to the lives of many people in the area. Specifically, the youths said:“We express our gratitude to God that Guinness Nigeria came to improve our town and Abia state in general.

The level of capital investment Guinness brought to Aba is significantly helping the local ans state economy to increase.” They also commended the company for showing enough interest in the welfare of the people of the host community by rehabilitating the road within Osisioma Industrial Layout and through the Water of Life Project located at Uratta in Aba.


04 May, 2004