General News
NBC Invests in Human Capital Development
Nigeria Bottling Company Plc has emphasized its commitment to the long term development of human capital in Nigeria through its staff training and skills acquisition programmes.
Ambassador Olusegun Apata, NBC chairman while speaking at the 57th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos recently stated that the company has continued its huge investment into staff development. “Throughout 2008 we focused our efforts on skill building initiatives, especially for our commercial and manufacturing staff. Our Management cadres are replenished through the Graduate Management Trainee program that two full classes of university graduates completed in 2008. We have also increased the intake of our Technical Training Schools to endow them with the appropriate skills for a company with very sophisticated bottling equipment.”
Apata noted that the NBC commenced operations in the year with a high degree of confidence, based on its vision, business strategies and significant investment plans for the year and it efforts were rewarded with growth.”
“This was driven by a strong focus on our range of sparkling soft drinks where the new “on-the-go” can packaging added significant revenue. 33cl cans are now available for Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta Orange, Sprite and Schweppes Bitter Lemon. Also the introduction of new light-weight “Ultra” glass bottles, although a huge investment, has been boosting our volume in this segment of the market. The other main driver of growth was Eva. The new line in our Ikeja plant has added significant extra capacity for the fast growing market of bottled water.”
Speaking further, he noted that “In the course of the year, our Supply Chain efforts continued to centre on upgrading our thirteen manufacturing facilities, further improving on our product and package quality, investing into Health & Safety and driving efficiencies in all aspects of our logistics chain. We also invested further in regulatory compliance and water treatment plants to protect the environment. “
The NBC chairman also announced a 17% increase in turnover from N68.5billion to N80.1billion in the current financial year. He assured that despite the global economic challenges “we remain focused on further development of our fundamental strengths, especially our dedication to manufacturing and sales excellence, quality and innovation. This will allow us to consolidate our leadership position and create new opportunities for our business, our people, our suppliers and our customers. We are focused on three core areas to ensure we are well positioned to survive the global financial crisis and its concomitant impact on the Nigerian economy and benefit from its recovery.
“Given the current climate, we have renewed our focus on cost control and enhanced operational efficiencies. Moreover, we are devising measures to contain our power costs driven by the erratic national electricity supply. We are in the process of rebuilding our Benin plant and expect to be back in operation by third quarter of 2009".
Ebelt, managing director remarked that “we want to reassure our consumers that we shall continue to provide them with their preferred choice of beverage at the right quality and the right price – no matter where they are in Nigeria.”
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc has announced the signing of a chain of contracts with major airlines for the provision of total handling solutions.
In a statement on Tuesday, the company announced the signing of contract renewals with Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic, as well as the African operator, RwandAir.
NAHCO also signed fresh contracts with United Nigeria – Regional, Bellagio and Malaikair.
According to the statement, the contracts with Air France and KLM are for three years and will run till 2028, respectively. The duration of the contract with Virgin Atlantic was also put at three years.
The duration for the RwandAir contract is for three years, effective 1 October 2025.
The statement read, “The new contract with United – Regional would be for a period of five years, effective from 1 August 2025. For Bellagio and Malaikair, the contracts are for three and five years, respectively.
“Bellagio Air, Nigeria’s rising star in aviation, is redefining air travel with a blend of luxury, efficiency, and reliability. Headquartered in the vibrant city of Ikeja, Lagos, Bellagio Air is committed to providing world-class service across key domestic and regional routes.”
The Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, NAHCO Plc, Saheed Lasisi, who expressed his delight with the new contracts, said NAHCO is already ready to exceed customers’ expectations.
According to Lasisi, NAHCO’s more than 46 years of unblemished excellent service delivery puts it heads and shoulders above any other service provider in the industry.
“This is what we have been doing for almost half of a century. We will continue to delight our customers and make our stakeholders happy by exceeding expectations in all aspects of our service offerings. We are always willing and ready to do more,” Lasisi added.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NAHCO Plc, Olumuyiwa Olumekun, added that with the new fleet of equipment the company is deploying, service delivery will only be better.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a forward-looking strategy that places satellite-enabled mobile connectivity at the heart of the country’s drive to bridge its long-standing coverage gaps.
The draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector for 2025 to 2030 lays out how satellite technologies could help deliver reliable voice and data services to millions of Nigerians who live beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks.
The direction is outlined in the Commission’s draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector covering the period.
The proposed approach highlights non-terrestrial networks as a complement to existing mobile infrastructure, especially in areas where terrain, insecurity, or high costs limit the deployment of base stations.
The NCC said D2D satellite technology, which allows standard mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, is gaining traction globally as a means of delivering voice and data services without reliance on ground towers.
According to the regulator, the technology could help close persistent coverage gaps in rural, riverine, and border communities that remain outside the reach of conventional networks.
It also noted that satellite-backed connectivity could improve network reliability by providing alternative links during fibre cuts, power failures, or other disruptions affecting terrestrial systems.
The Commission added that wider adoption of D2D services could support emergency communications, public safety operations, Internet of Things applications, and services such as smart agriculture in underserved regions.
It also pointed to potential investment opportunities through partnerships between mobile network operators and satellite companies, including more efficient use of shared spectrum resources.
Beyond D2D services, the roadmap places emphasis on Low-Earth Orbit satellites to expand broadband access to remote parts of the country.
It also proposes better utilisation of Geostationary Orbit satellites and the exploration of high-altitude platforms, such as stratospheric balloons, to support mobile backhaul and rural connectivity.
The policy signals come shortly after Airtel Africa announced an agreement with SpaceX to introduce Starlink-powered direct-to-cell services in Nigeria.
The NCC’s roadmap is expected to shape future spectrum allocation, licensing decisions, and technology adoption across the telecommunications sector.
General News
House of Reps Releases Certified Copies of Tax Reform Acts amid Gazette Discrepancy Claims
House of Representatives has released certified true copies of the four tax reform Acts signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, addressing public concerns over alleged discrepancies between legislative versions and circulated gazetted documents.
Tax Reform Acts
House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, disclosed this in a statement, noting that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed the immediate publication of the Acts—including endorsement and presidential assent pages—for public verification, in collaboration with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The move followed allegations raised by Rep. Abdulsamad Dasuki on the House floor, highlighting inconsistencies between Bills passed by the National Assembly and executive gazetted versions, which he warned could erode legislative integrity and public trust.
Abbas constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee chaired by Rep. Aliyu Betara, with members including Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Adedeji Faleke, Igariwey Iduma, Fred Agbedi and Babajimi Benson, to investigate the alleged alterations, unauthorised circulation and preventive measures.
The committee’s mandate includes probing circumstances around the discrepancies, while Abbas ordered internal verification and public release of certified copies to dispel doubts and safeguard legislative records. Legal experts, tax professionals and civil society had demanded clarification and implementation suspension amid heated debates triggered by Dasuki’s intervention.
The released laws comprise the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service Establishment Act, 2025; and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act, 2025, described as foundational to modernising Nigeria’s tax system.
These reforms aim to enhance compliance, curb inefficiencies, eliminate overlaps and bolster fiscal coordination across federal, state and local tiers, following extensive stakeholder consultations, committee reviews and plenary debates under Abbas’s leadership.
Rotimi reassured Nigerians: “The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure, and institutional memory. Every Bill, every amendment, and every Act follows a traceable constitutional and parliamentary pathway.”
He emphasised that only National Assembly-certified versions hold authority, urging the public, institutions and stakeholders to disregard all other circulating documents as unofficial.
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