Heineken Shuts Down Two Plants in Nigeria

Beer-manufacturer Nigerian Breweries will shut down two of its nine manufacturing plants in Nigeria due to the harsh economic situation in the country, the company said in a note to the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Thursday.

Police makers at the company deemed the decision necessary due to operational concerns which was massively impacted by record foreign exchange loss up to the tune of N153.3 billion last year.

It’s the Nigerian subsidiary of Heineken Brouwerijen B.V’s highest foreign exchange loss in the company’s history since it began operations in Nigeria 77 years ago.

The company said it recognised how the closure of the two plants would affect workers in the affected locations. But he said the company was committed to reduce the effect of the situation by providing severance packages to the affected employees.

“We recognise and regret the impact that the suspension of brewery operations in the two affected locations may have on our employees,” said Hans Essaadi, the managing director of the company.

He added, “We are committed to limiting the impact on people as far as possible and providing strong support and severance packages to all affected.”

The decision will help the company to retain 15 per cent capacity expansion over the past decade as well as reduce costs of production, Bloomberg Africa reported.

By Victor Olorunfemi, Peoples Gazette

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Nigerian film star Amal Umar arrested on bribery charges

One of Nigeria's most popular actresses has been arrested for allegedly trying to bribe a police officer in Kano state.

Police say Amal Umar gave an officer 250,000 naira (£137; $175) to have her impounded car released.

Her lawyer Adama Usman says she denies the charges, saying it was a police officer who first asked for money.

She has appeared in hundreds of movies over the past decade and is also well known in neighbouring countries.

Amal, as she is known by fans of Kano's film industry, Kannywood, has millions of followers on social media.

According to the police, Amal's car was seized over a year ago on suspicion it had been purchased using proceeds of fraud allegedly committed by her boyfriend.

"She gave our officer 250,000 [naira] with a promise to bring more money," Kano police spokesman Bashir Muhammad told the BBC.

Amal's lawyer Mrs Usman told the BBC they would continue to fight the case in court as she thinks the Fuska Biyu star was coerced.

"This is simply a case of abuse of her rights. We won the initial case in court where they were trying to link her with her boyfriend's activities which she has no hands in," the lawyer told the BBC.

"But the police are yet to obey court orders four months in by still holding on to her car.

"On this case of attempted bribery they are claiming, we are going to pursue it to the end because she was called to come and collect her car only for things to change," the lawyer said.

Amal, 24, has been freed on bail.

Police say Amal's boyfriend Ramadan Inuwa is wanted on charges of obtaining money by false pretences and is still at large.

He has not commented on the accusations.

By Mansur Abubakar, BBC

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Nigeria strikes deal with Shell to supply $3.8 bln methanol project

Nigeria has struck a deal for Shell to supply gas to its proposed $3.8 billion Brass methanol facility, resolving a major hurdle to a final investment decision on the project, the minister of state for gas said on Thursday.

Nigeria, which holds Africa's largest natural gas reserves of more than 200 trillion cubic feet, has struggled to tap the commodity due to capital constraints and a lack of infrastructure.

Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo said in a statement that the Gas Supply and Purchase Agreement, crucial for the Brass methanol project, will be executed next month following successful talks with Shell's Nigeria CEO and executives from other companies involved.

The GSPA will secure a long-term gas supply from a Shell-operated joint venture for the methanol production facility that will be built on Brass Island in the oil-rich coastal Bayelsa state.

"The NNPC/Shell joint venture partners are now fully committed to uninterrupted gas supply for the development of the Brass Methanol project," Ekpo said.

"Mr President is very passionate about this project and wants something positive to happen in respect of the Brass Methanol project before the end of May this year," Ekpo said.

The project includes a gas processing plant, a methanol production and refining site, and product export facilities.

By Camillus Eboh, Reuters

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Video - Soaring food prices in Nigeria strain family budgets on staples

Many people in Nigeria are shocked at the surge in the cost of cassava flakes. Production of cassava flakes or garri, as they are locally known,, is being hampered by rising insecurity which has led to death and kidnapping of farmers for ransom.

CGTN

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Nigeria suspends permit of 3 private jet operators

Nigeria's Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken action against private jet operators flouting regulations by suspending the Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) of three operators caught conducting commercial flights.

This crackdown follows warnings issued in March 2024.

Acting Director General Capt. Chris Najomo stated that increased surveillance at Nigerian airports led to the grounding of three operators found violating their PNCF terms. Specifically, they breached annexure provisions and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.

In response, the NCAA announced a thorough re-evaluation of all PNCF holders to ensure compliance with regulations, to be completed by April 19th, 2024. PNCF holders have been instructed to submit necessary documents within 72 hours to expedite the process. Najomo emphasized these actions highlight the NCAA's commitment to enhancing safety in Nigerian airspace.

Furthermore, the NCAA warned the public against using charter operators without a valid Air Operators Certificate and urged legitimate industry players to report any suspicious activities promptly.

This crackdown comes after the NCAA's stern warning in March against PNCF holders engaging in commercial operations.

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