Lagos, Feb. 3, 2024: The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BAT Nigeria) has expressed a strong belief in the country\u2019s significant potential, saying it is fully invested in it and wants to be true partners to its growth agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yarub Al-Bahrani, the Managing Director, BAT Nigeria, West and Central Africa, made this known at a news conference on Friday in Lagos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conference was to celebrate its factory\u2019s 20th year of manufacturing excellence in Ibadan, Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al-Bahrani said the factory, established in 2003, with investments worth over $185 million, had been a cornerstone of the company\u2019s operations in the West and Centreal Africa region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the company recently started exporting to the United States of America, returning hard foreign exchange worth millions of dollars to the Nigerian economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al-Bahrani said the company would continue to invest in Nigeria\u2019s ecosystem, the people, and the environment via its various Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTwo decades ago, we embarked on a journey to establish a world-class manufacturing facility in Nigeria, and today, we are proud to celebrate the Ibadan factory as a shining example of our commitment to excellence and sustainability in Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe factory has played a pivotal role in our success, contributing significantly to the Nigerian economy, creating employment opportunities across the value chain, and promoting environmental stewardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor the Nigerian economy, there are tough choices but going forward, the country would reap the rewards as we believe in the significant potential of Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEconomically, things would get better and we would continue to invest and partner with the government while they continue to invest in business friendly policies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al-Bahrani said the company beyond its commercial success had been a champion of environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to him, the factory has implemented a comprehensive environmental management system, incorporating stringent measures to reducing its carbon footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These efforts, he noted, have resulted in significant reductions in energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Factory has gained recognition for its commitment to environmental sustainability, highlighted by its recent setup of a 1.4MWP grid-tied solar panel system scheduled to be unveiled on Feb.6, 2024,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kola Karim, Chairman, Advisory Board, BAT, said the company\u2019s milestone signified a landmark event for its inward investment in the Nigerian landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karim said the company committed itself to use the country as a hub for manufacturing, production and exports thereby significantly contributing to its economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe investment is creating additional jobs, industrial support, payment of taxes and also providing socioeconomic support via its various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, Director, External Affairs, BAT, West, and Central Africa, Odiri Erewa-Meggison, asserted that the company had remained steadfast in its commitment to driving A Better Tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said the Ibadan factory was not just a manufacturing facility; but an integral part of the Nigerian community, continuously committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Odiri said the company would continue to partner with Small and Medium Enterprises to recycle goods into household items as part of its CSR and ESG practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe would continue to expand and give back to the community we generate our revenue from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeing a market leader, we are setting a pace and want to continue to work with the government to show that it is possible to come to Nigeria and run a sustainable business profitably,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Odiri added that the 20th anniversary celebration would serve as a tribute to the accomplishments and successes of the factory while expressing gratitude for the partnerships formed over the years with various stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of all employees, partners, and stakeholders who have played a vital role in shaping our growth and journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe look forward to celebrating more milestones and positive contributions of the factory,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lagos, Feb. 3, 2024: The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BAT Nigeria) has expressed a strong belief in the country\u2019s significant potential, saying it is fully invested in it and wants to be true partners to its growth agenda. Yarub Al-Bahrani, the Managing Director, BAT Nigeria, West and Central Africa, made this known at a news […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21269,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[949],"tags":[1979],"class_list":["post-55451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","tag-tobacco","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"yoast_head":"\n