Monarch Lauds Firms Over Investment

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, has commended the SABMiller of South Africa and the Nigerian Breweries for establishing plants in Onitsha, Anambra.

Achebe gave the commendation recently in Onitsha at the10th Ofala Festival celebration sponsored by Globacom, one of the leading telecommunications firm in Africa.

According to him, SABMiller of South Africa is spending about 100 million dollars (N15 billion) on a Green Field brewery in Onitsha.

“While Nigerian Breweries PLC has acquired the Life Brewery, the functional brewery in Onitsha to further boost its production.

“Both investments will create additional employment and generally enhance business within the metropolis,’’ the traditional ruler said.

Our correspondent reports that SABMiller Brewery would begin production in Onitsha in July, 2012.

The brewery would directly employ over 750 job seekers and indirectly engage 4,500 persons.

The Nigerian Breweries had also started the expansion of old Life Brewery plant.

It is expected that about 200 people will be directly employed while over 1200 will be indirectly engaged when the plant is completed.