The Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC) on Tuesday, said it has concluded plans to launch its brand of beer in December.
The Managing Director (MD/CEO), Dr Raymond Asemakaha disclosed stated this while addressing newsmen shortly after a tour of the brewery, water and bakery factories in Makurdi.
Dr Asemakaha said the company was out to give Benue and Nigerians a high premium quality beer that is made in Benue using fresh raw materials.
He said that BIPC was not in competition with any brewery and would do her thing for the people to enjoy a beer with a difference.
The managing director said the name of the beer would be unveiled in December.
He said numerous studies reviewed that producers of alcoholic beverages makes between N800 million to N870 million monthly in Benue.
Asemakaha said the decision by the company was to ensure that such funds are no longer taken out of the State, but rather retain within to boost the State economy.
He said the establishment of the brewery would cost the company over N800 million , adding that shares would be open for Benue indigenes to subscribe.
The company boss said a total of 23 shares were reserved for the 23 Local Government Areas of the State to subscribe 1 per cent each.
He further said that from the start, the company would be producing 180,000 bottles per day, adding that fermentation alone takes 15 days.
“For us at the BIPC we are trying as much as possible to change the narrative and that is why when I came on board, we decided to do some small businesses to take our teaming youths out of the streets.
“When we came in we understand that basically the alcoholic consumption in Benue is high. The dealers make sales between N800 million to N870 million monthly.
“We also understand that the people selling this beer are taking our money out of the State.
“So we decided that we will start a brewery company to produce our own beer to be able to absorb and retain the cash flow within our State,”he said
Asemakaha said the company had planned ahead adequately for the raw materials needed for the production of its beer.
On the Water and Bakery factories, he said the two companies which are sited within the same premises at Tse Ayu, on George Akume way would cost N220 million to be completed.
He said the companies would be completed and commissioned on May 27.
He said the water factory from start would be producing 3,000 water bottles within an hour and 9,000 per day, and would increase as demands increases.
Also speaking, Mrs Theresa Abeda, Head, Business Development and Strategy, BIPC, said all they do was to identify and recommend businesses that would bring development to the management for consideration.
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Mrs. Abeda said the department has capable hands to always deliver on its mandate.
Mrs. Jerry Iosun, Head, department of Real Estate and Infrastructure, said all the projects executed by the company met the global approved standard.
He, however, decried the incessant rise of prices of materials as one of their challenges so far.(NAN)
