A financial analyst, Mr
Bayo Olugbemi, has urged the Federal Government to encourage the local production of wines by increasing tariffs on imported wine beverages.
Olugbemi, the Managing Director, First Registrar Nigeria Ltd., told newsmen in Lagos that locally produced wines would be economically successful following the nation’s high demand for wines.
According to him, the high demand for wine makes it imperative for government to position it as another area that would accommodate the nation’s teaming unemployed youths.
“We could have fruits processing plants in states like Benue and Plateau where the weather is good for berries and other fruits used in wine production.
“Often most of the region’s known exotic and assorted fruits found in other foreign countries are allowed to waste.
“Exploring and developing the wine plants in some of the regions could help Nigeria manage some of its potentials,” Olugbemi added.
He said that Nigerian’s should refrain from the consumption of foreign wines and learn to consume locally prepared champagne.
“Consuming more of domestic and assorted wines by our elite class will further empower the farmers and the industrialists in this line of business.
“And it has the capacity of increasing the gross domestic products and adding value to the domestic economy,” he said.
Nigeria spends an average of N41.41 billion on champagne yearly, and it is rated the second fastest growing market in the world for champagne.
In a research conducted by Euro monitor international, between 2006 and 2011, Nigeria achieved a compound annual growth of 22 per cent in champagne consumption.