Business

High Demand Fuels Beta Glass Capacity Expansion

Published

17 years ago

July 17, 2009

Even with the enormous challenges faced by glass manufacturers in the country, high demand for empty bottles by the beverage industry is currently fuelling capacity expansion projects in the sector.

Beta Glass Plc, for instance, has become visibly seen to be driving this development with its one-year-old glass furnace and production lines in its plants in Delta State.

The former glass furnace of Beta Glass had a melting capacity of 170 metric tons per day, fitted with four production lines. The new plant brings the company’s overall capacity to 50 metric tons, with a mega furnace that has a capacity of 220 metric tons per day fitted with five production lines. With the new capacity, the company feels more confident of meeting demand for hollow bottles by industrial sectors such as brewery, pharmaceutical and wine makers.

Beyond meeting local demand for hollow glass containers in Nigeria, Beta Glass plans to harness the expanding opportunities in the West Africa sub-region and indeed the sub-Sahara region of Africa. The major operators in the brewery sector and clients of the company include Nigeria Breweries, Guinness, and Consolidated breweries, etc.

Similar improvements in production capacity are also going on at the International Glass Industry Limited, Aba, as well as Oluwa Glass in Ondo State.

The company’s chairman, Christopher Ogunbanjo, puts the cost of the plant equipped with the most modern technology in the glass industry at N3.8 billion, and with a new glass turbine to secure energy needs for the increased capacities. “For a stable and consistent power supply, a 4.9 megawatts gas turbine has been installed”.

The furnace, in addition to the increased capacity, facilitates the production of ultra light-weight bottles for the first time in West Africa. It also uses recycled glass, which helps the envroment as it is pollution free”, Ogunbanjo revealed.

Describing the company as one of the oldest and commercial industial organisations in Nigeria, Ogunbanjo indicated that the company did not overlook the critical issue of regular electrical support needed for uninterrupted production.

Petros Diamantides, Managing Director, Frigoglass, Anthens, said in establishing the world-class operation, they not only appealed to leading equipment producers but at the same time endeavoured to increase local content and input of local expertise and services, this accounted for 25 per cent of the total cost of the project to about N1 billion. Beta Glass is a member of Frigoglass, a multinational organisation and members of the Leventis Group. The management of the company recently declared that demand for new glass packaging by breweries and soft drinks companies boosts its turnover from N7.03 billion to N9.08 billion.

According to Ogunbanjo, despite the challenges faced by the company, our turnover increased from N7.03 billion to N9.08 billion, a growth of 29 per cent that was on the back of a 37 per cent growth last year, adding that “profit after tax rose from N0.87 billion to N1.9 billion, representing a growth of 38 per cent.

“The major growth drivers were the strong continued demand in the breweries and soft drinks sector, and new glass packaging launches from our major customers. Packaging has bee recognised as an effective tool to drive sales and excitement among the consumers by our customers”, he stressed.

The chairman also noted that the company continued to develop and position itself as a strategic partner to its customers to support better value creation in their businesses through securing a reliable supply base to them at a competitive price.

To this degree, he expected quality levels as it has committed to make investments in technology improvements in light-weight bottles and capacity to support the growth of its customers.

He also revealed that the investments in capacities and technology advances to sustain growth also created pressure on the cash flow and debt position, as the debt situation remained high with resulting finance costs.

On the future prospect, he disclosed that there were credible indications that the global recession was going to deepen in 2009 and a harsh economic climate awaited industrics all over the world.

Transport

Nigeria Rates 7th For Visa Application To France —–Schengen Visa

Published

11 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria was the 7th country in 2024, which filed the most schenghen visa to France, with a total of 111,201 of schenghen visa applications made in 2025, out of which 55,833, about 50.2 percent submitted to France

Although 2025 data is unavailable, these figures from Schengen Visa Info implies that France is not merely a preferred destination, but has been a dominant access point for Nigerian short-stay travel into Europe.

France itself has received more than three million Schengen visa applications, making it the most sought-after Schengen destination globally and a leading gateway for long-haul and third-country travellers. It was the top destination for applicants from 51 countries that same year, including many without visa-exemption arrangements with the Schengen Zone, and the sole destination for applicants from seven countries.

Alison Reed, a senior analyst at the European Migration Observatory said, “France’s administrative reach shapes applicant strategy, but it also concentrates risk. If processing times lengthen or documentation standards tighten in Paris, the effects ripple quickly back to capitals such as Abuja.”

The figures underline that this pattern is not unique to Nigeria. In neighbouring West and Central African states such as Gabon, Benin, Togo and Madagascar, more than 90 per cent of Schengen visas were sought via French authorities in 2024, with Chad, Djibouti, the Central African Republic and Comoros submitting applications exclusively to France.

“France acts as the central enumeration point for many African and Asian applicants,” said Manish Khandelwal, founder of Travelobiz.com, which reported the consolidated statistics. “Historical ties, language networks and established diaspora communities all play into that concentration. But volume inevitably invites scrutiny, and that affects refusal rates and processing rigour.”

That scrutiny is visible in the rejection statistics. Of the more than three million French applications in 2024, approximately 481,139 were denied, a rejection rate of about 15.7 per cent. While this rate is lower than in some smaller Schengen states, the sheer volume of applications means France contributes significantly to the total number of refusals within the zone.

For Nigerian applicants and policymakers, one implication is the need to broaden engagement with other Schengen consular hubs. “Over-reliance on a single consulate creates what one might call administrative bottleneck effects,” said Jean-Luc Martin, a professor and expert in European integration and mobility law at Leiden University. “If applicants from Nigeria default to France without exploring legitimate alternatives in countries like Spain, Germany or the Netherlands, they expose themselves to systemic risk

Martin added that the broader context of Schengen visa policy is evolving, with the European Commission’s preparing roll-out of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) aimed at harmonising pre-travel screening across member states.

For Nigerians seeking leisure, business or educational travel to Europe, these trends suggest that strategic planning and consular diversification could become as important as the completeness of documentation and financial proof. Governments and travel consultancies in Abuja, Lagos and beyond are already advising clients to explore alternative consular pathways and to prepare for more rigorous screening criteria across all Schengen states

By: Enoch Epelle

Transport

West Zone Aviation: Adibade Olaleye Sets For NANTA President

Published

11 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Prince Abiodun Ajibade Olaleye, a former Welfare Officer and Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), has formally declared his intention to contest for the position of Vice President of NANTA Western Zone, ahead of the zonal elections scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026.

In a New Year message to members of the association, Olaleye expressed optimism about the prospects of the travel and tourism industry in 2026, despite the economic headwinds and migration policy challenges that affected operations in the previous year.

He acknowledged that reduced patronage and declining trade volumes had placed significant financial pressure on many travel agencies, but urged members to remain resilient and forward-looking.

According to him, the challenges confronting the industry should be seen as opportunities for growth, innovation and institutional strengthening.

He stressed the need for unity and collective action among members of the association, noting that collaboration remains critical to navigating the evolving global travel environment.

Unveiling his vision for the NANTA Western Zone, Olaleye said his aspiration is to consolidate on the achievements of past leaders while expanding the zone’s relevance, influence and impact “beyond imagination.” He promised a leadership focused on commanding excellence, improved member welfare and stronger stakeholder engagement.

Drawing from his experience in previous executive roles within NANTA, the vice-presidential aspirant said he is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to the association, particularly in areas of member support, public engagement and institutional growth.

“I believe that together, we can take our association to greater heights and build a stronger, more prosperous NANTA Western Zone that benefits all members,” he said, while appealing to delegates for their support and votes.

Olaleye concluded by offering prayers for good health, peace and prosperity for members in 2026, expressing confidence that the new year would usher in renewed opportunities for the travel industry and the association at large.

By: Enoch Epelle

Business

Sugar Tax ‘ll Threaten Manufacturing Sector, Says CPPE

Published

12 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has warned that renewed calls for a sugar tax on non-alcoholic beverages could hurt Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, threaten jobs and slow the country’s fragile economic recovery.

In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer, CPPE, Muda Yusuf, said while public health concerns such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases deserve attention, imposing an additional sugar-specific tax was economically risky and poorly suited to Nigeria’s current realities of high inflation, weak consumer purchasing power and rising production costs.

Yusuf who insisted that the food and beverage sector remains the backbone of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry, said the industry supports millions of livelihoods across farming, processing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail trade, and hospitality.

He remarked that any policy that weakens this ecosystem could have far-reaching consequences, including job losses, lower household incomes and reduced investment.

Yusuf argued that proposals for sugar taxation in Nigeria are often influenced by global policy templates that do not adequately reflect local conditions.

According to him, manufacturers in the non-alcoholic beverage segment are already facing heavy fiscal and cost pressures.

“The proposition of a sugar-specific tax is misplaced, economically risky, and weakly supported by empirical evidence, especially when viewed against Nigeria’s prevailing structural and macroeconomic realities.

“Existing obligations include company income tax, value-added tax, excise duties, levies on profits and imports, and multiple state and local government charges. These are compounded by high energy costs, exchange-rate volatility, elevated interest rates and expensive logistics,” he said.

The CPPE boss noted that retail prices of many non-alcoholic beverages have risen by about 50 per cent over the past two years, even without the introduction of new taxes, further squeezing consumers.

Yusuf further expressed reservation on the effectiveness of sugar taxes in addressing the root causes of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu