*FINAL EXIT OF P&G FROM OGUN STATE: A Vision, My Experience*

_Hope you are aware of the exit of one of the top global Pharmaceutical giants, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) from Nigeria after 51 years in operations in Ogun state._

Nestle, Guinness, Cadbury, 7up are warming up to relocate...
Just imagine Agbara without Nestle, and the implications on the socioeconomic situation of Ogun state!
Do a rough estimate of P&G staff that are now jobless, especially Ogun state indigenes.
_Do I hear you say none of your family and friends work with them. Don't be psychophant. You can't afford to be a mediocre at a time like this, because of what you are currently benefiting from this regime._


Ayokunle Farm died,
Odutola Products died
ST.Tiamiyu production company
Many other companies that employed our youth in the early 90's and early 2000's have all packup.

I finished my Youth Service in Feb. 2005. I was given a letter of recommendation from where I served in Jos (Vitafoam Nig. Plc). I was scheduled for an interview at their Head Office in Oba Akran, Lagos. I was to resume in their Kano Branch as Maintenance Engineer but religious crisis happened around that time. They had to shut down the Site to forestall collateral damages. Hence, I had to officially be flung to the ocean of "labour market". My first bite of "Nigeria Happened to You".

Fast forward to 2007. I had switched to full computer engineering. I cloned Computer systems for people and repaired same in the popular Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos. I just dey hustle anyhow to make ends meet. I always trekked from Opebi, where I was staying with the Owolabi's (May God bless that family for me) to Egbon Ojo's Office in Computer Village where I normally perch with my flash drive tied to my neck as symbol of a computer guy. It's in this state Sister Opeyemi Ajayi sent me a link to text my details to in Ibadan. I did and from that text message, my journey of 11years commenced.

I sincerely didn't know how big P&G was. I already passed UAC Management Trainee Test, scheduled for their Medical when P&G interviews were going on. A classmate I met at UAC in Lagos complained about their work culture, which was not too palatable. I shared my predicament with Pastor Kehinde Owolabi who told me how big the Company was in UK where he stayed for years. How Nigerians even lobbied and prayed to be their adhoc staff. This made me settle for P&G as my First Career Love. I resumed Sept. 13, 2007.

P&G would first host you for a month in Kakanfo Hotel in Ibadan if you didn't have anyone to stay with in Ibadan. All bills on them. The Company had bus that conveyed you to and fro the designated Bus Stop. You're trained about the culture of the Company for One Month. Free healthcare in the best hospitals in Ibadan and Lagos. Quality food at the canteen. My first salary was huge then because of all the prorated allowances. For the first time, I was treated with dignity. Naturally, the company gave me a sense of ownership till tomorrow.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo might have his negatives but Ebora Owu knows Economics. He blocked border against products being manufactured in Nigeria. Businesses were booming. We work round the clock to meet up with orders from distributors. We only shut down on 24th December and startup night of 25th. Same thing for New Year Anniversary. We shut down on the 31st, start up 1st January Night. Full operation by 2nd. We couldn't cope with the demands. P&G had to be forced to invest more in Nigeria.

I first travelled out of Nigeria courtesy of my First Love, P&G. I, with four others were sent on an automation training with Rockwell Automation in UK. Our Nigerian coursemates for that One Month were people from Total, Mobil, etc. No manufacturing company dared such investment but the almighty P&G. You're escorted even to Visa Office by Mobile Police entourage. You're taken to and fro the airport with same entourage. Because they see you as asset that nothing should happen to. Imagine giving "ordinary technician" such honour. That's my P&G for you.

"AGBARA, THE FUTURE."

Because of the market demands, P&G decided to expand their investments in Nigeria. Paper section of the company was relocated to Agbara. Over $300Million was invested there with state of the art facility built by Julius Berger Nig. Ltd. We had Gym facilities. We had massagers. We had table tennis. We had football pitch. We generated our own power with a massive Gas Generator. Your badge is the access to doors, offices, canteen, gym, everywhere. These were the stuffs you only saw in American movies like 24.

P&G prioritizes trainings. Some of my guys like Betiku Olubunmi Jude , Gbadamosi Adekunle , etc were on training for the new production lines in Cairo for a complete calendar year. If you're married, you could go with your family, even some that gave birth there like Samson Oloyede Johnson went with Malle that did omogwuo in Cairo. My friend even named his child after the Cairo Doctor that meant a lot to their family. That's how important you are to that Company. They value you. How would you not love such company? The Femcare guys like Stanley Emite , Aderanti Yomi , Adewale Ajibade ,etc, went to Germany for theirs. That's how big P&G was.

"Agbara, the Future" became the slogan. That was the plan before Nigeria happened to my beloved P&G. The startups for the new lines started getting extended due to our Nigerianness. Custom's policy summersaults started affecting the logistics. Border flung opened. Cheaper products littered the market courtesy of another Govt policies. 3 brand new babycare lines were brought for initial installations but only 2 could be installed. Cheaper products had taken over the market before we produced our first diaper. The "future" was punctured from the world "go".

We would produce but no one to buy. Sometimes you wanted to produce, Shell might tell you, they couldn't supply gas to power you generator. You had to switch to expensive diesel to power the other diesel generators to produce to meet up with the little demands. To transport the finished products became a challenge too. The roads were horrible. Containers doing gymnastics by summersaulting anyhow on those gully-holes (because those were not potholes). I even learnt the companies around the axis like GSK, UNILEVER, P&G, to mention but few approached the State Govt and proposed to fix the road with a possible tax waivers to no avail. They told them to bring the money while their works ministry help them fix it. The companies became helpless and backed out.

Agbara ceased to be the future courtesy of both external and internal self-destructive birthed out of greed and untamed avarice. The investors borrowed us $300m at the exchange rate of less than #200/$. In Buhari's first 6months, it had jumped to #500. He fell ill and Prof. Osinbajo was able to stabilize it at #350/$. P&G had no alternative than to do all it could to stay afloat business-wise. Until Tinubu came and did the worse #1000/$. Gradual retrenchment was introduced. Adieu my 1st Career Love. You actually "Improved and touched our lives". All your "offsprings" like Ariel, Pampers, Always, Gillette, Klin. Duracell, Oral B, etc would always have my endorsement anyday, anytime. Love you P&G._

I carefully read this and I am sad by the way Nigeria happened to P&G. I can count number of lives PG turned around for good, many of them have their houses around my area in Ibadan. You hardly see a P&G person that didnt build atleast one house. So sad a story

Honestly Government kills businesses with bad policies. Imagine they even asked them to bring the money so the ministry would work on Nigeria road. Too bad

God bless you brother for speaking the truth to power .I have made so many threads about the Lagos economy burst . I have been called all sorts of names .finally a young apolitical yoruba man has spoken up.

a certain financial coach has warned that many of such exit meetings are happening in Europe, United States and Asia . If the by the end of this business year , if there are no improvements, their will be economic shock by 2024,


Truth be told. Lagos is now history .

Big companies will be exiting that will shake the Lagos economy to its foundation, Nestlé is one company I am really afraid for. Followed by dstv, mtn, airtel . Glo and 9 mobile are on the fringes.
The whole telecommunications industry will be needing big bailout. Mafab is no where.

The issue will start impacting banks and insurance companies by next year and by 2025 , the bear run will be in full swing

The Ondo youths can relocate to the east

The purchasing power of average Nigerian is very low compared to other climes. Expect the following companies to japa also:

- WAMPCO
- Unilever
- GZ Industries
- Nestle Plc
- Reckitt Benckiser

If you work in above companies, just start saving because by 2024 Annual Reports, these companies' returns would be too marginal to their overall operations to continue to be sustained.
Except a can of PeakMilk would sell for N1000 and a can of Milo sells for N2000, the operations of these companies would be too low to sustain their investments. GZ being allied company would not have needed demands.
Except Nigerians are able to pay N800 for a bottle of coke, CocaCola may join also.

No sane government wakes up and devalue its economy at the sametime kill its productive capacity. Tinubu was never a business man, never sat on any corporate board, just a politician playing dirty politics here and there. Same goes for Buhari, now we are stuck technically.

As I always said. Nigeria died on 29th May 2015 and was buried on 29th May 2023.

The devil cometh to kill steal and destroy.

Lets blame Obedient crew after all no be stat we go chop..

OkpaNsukkaisBae:
Lets blame Obedient crew after all no be stat we go chop..

Hehehehehe

But federal government gave such company a good 3 years to not pay tax.

People who haven't worked for multinationals won't understand you. The same thing happened to Michelin Tyres when Obasanjo reduced importation duty of tyre to 10%. Michelin died, Dunlop died. We wept but non could hear us.

Politicians are killing Nigeria.

Most of their products are now being produced by some indigenous companies. The competition is no longer healthy for them.

kettykin:
God bless you brother for speaking the truth to power .I have made so many threads about the Lagos economy burst . I have been called all sorts of names .finally a young apolitical yoruba man has spoken up.

a certain financial coach has warned that many of such exit meetings are happening in Europe, United States and Asia . If the by the end of this business year , if there are no improvements, their will be economic shock by 2024,


Truth be told. Lagos is now history .

Big companies will be exiting that will shake the Lagos economy to its foundation, Nestlé is one company I am really afraid for. Followed by dstv, mtn, airtel . Glo and 9 mobile are on the fringes.
The whole telecommunications industry will be needing big bailout. Mafab is no where.

The issue will start impacting banks and insurance companies by next year and by 2025 , the bear run will be in full swing

We are just praying that it doesn't get to that extent. God help us ooo.

Are there indigenous companies that can produce exactly the same or similar products ?

These multinationals repatriate their funds back to their home country, look at the price of the local airline, AIRPEACE.

I suggest we encourage these local producers by patronizing them.

Why would I fly BA if there is airpeace.
Why would I buy foreign made boxers when it is produced with high quality in Aba.


We should focus on these local companies owned 100% by Nigerians

This should be a wake up call to those with entrepreneurial mindset to wake and meet the demands of Nigeria and Nigerians.


Imagine Walmart leaving a city and people are crying, they will rejoice as smaller business will thrive.

Very touching

Dialpad:
Are there indigenous companies that can produce exactly the same or similar products ?

These multinationals repatriate their funds back to their home country, look at the price of the local airline, AIRPEACE.

I suggest we encourage these local producers by patronizing them.

Why would I fly BA if there is airpeace.
Why would I buy foreign made boxers when it is produced with high quality in Aba.


We should focus on these local companies owned 100% by Nigerians

This should be a wake up call to those with entrepreneurial mindset to wake and meet the demands of Nigeria and Nigerians.


Imagine Walmart leaving a city and people are crying, they will rejoice as smaller business will thrive.

What most indigenous companies do is import and package

I totally read the whole story and I feel very sad reading the predicament of the person who wrote it.
There's something Reno Omokri tried to point out some months ago but I think partisanship didn't allow the message sink in.
Importation is the biggest killer of business in Nigeria,for every product imported into Nigeria, someone somewhere is losing their job.
I really really feel very bad for every staff that will lose their jobs as a result of the exit of these multinationals but I really do hope Government provides a refuge for these employees by being actively involved in negotiating their retirement packages.
Government must make it harder for imports to flow easily into Nigeria,but then government is caught between two the devil and the blue Sea.
Close the borders and create employment for a few citizens or open it up and make a lot of people happy through purchase of cheaper and inferior products.
The latter is always the easiest for any lazy government,it creates an utopia for a few years but the on the long run it creates long lasting damages to the citizens,from being import dependent,and eventually passive unemployment to the citizenry.
I always wonder how Asiwaju wants to import foreign capital into Nigeria when the established ones are running out of the country.
Government must sit down and analyze why it cost almost double to produce in Nigeria the same items that will produced and shipped down from a country like China.
The P&G story told by the writer shows government must quickly invite some experts to analyse what factors are increasing the prices of products manufactured in Nigeria and ways to dismantle these impediments,if not done urgently,all of Asiwaju's recent travels to seek for foreign capital will be an exercise In futility.
Still Selling Land in Ibeju-lekki around Dangote Refinery,check my signature for more details.
God bless Nigeria

Kossyso:
Most of their products are now being produced by some indigenous companies. The competition is no longer healthy for them.

You get it imagine the numbers of people who are into organic soap, liquid soap and cream, moreover similar products are coming into country with cheaper prices

We need them to manufacture here,(not importation)

Government can provide reduced import duties on raw materials, machinery etc.

Government can also provide 20hrs/7 days power for them, at least there are a few places in Lagos that have guaranteed 22hrs light daily.

We only need leaders with long term vision.

Splashme:


What most indigenous companies do is import and package

Even with all those foreign companies, Agbara still looks dilapidated. Now, they’re all abandoning the place, it is going to become a terrible slum where only 💀 ⛏ activities thrive.

As the foreign companies are leaving in droves, Igbo companies are relocating to the East too.

hakeemhakeem:


You get it imagine the numbers of people who are into organic soap, liquid soap, and cream, moreover similar products are coming into the country with cheaper prices

You are right bro. We should brace ourselves for the exit of many of these foreign companies in the future not solely because of a bad economy but because many Nigerians are beginning to engage in manufacturing, production, and importation of other comparable products. I would rather prefer we have 10 indigenous companies producing different varieties of consumables than 1 foreign company holding sway in the country. The best bet for these foreign companies is to engage in franchise. Imo.

Cheap China products are destroying companies and leading to business closures in many countries.

Many European countries are losing manufacturers every day, mostly because they can't compete with the price of Chinese imports. Even Germany, the erstwhile manufacturing giant is facing serious plant closures and transfer of manufacturing to China.

It is unfortunate that P & G is closing here but it mainly comes down to the availability of cheap Chinese alternatives in the market. P&G can't compete.

Nigerian government can't ban Chinese imports which has brought affordability to millions of Nigerians in order to protect P & G which only a minority of people can afford.

There are no easy solutions to the 'Chinese problem'.