Business
Coca-Cola Brightens Neonatal, Maternal Healthcare with Strategic Intervention
By Edozie Obasi-Eze
The Coca-Cola System in Nigeria, comprising Coca-Cola Nigeria and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), has stepped up efforts at mitigating neonatal and maternal mortality with a strategic intervention in Nigeria’s healthcare system, under its Safe Birth Initiative (SBI).
Director, Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, on Friday, in Port Harcourt, explained that SBI is the health-centric strategy with which the Coca-Cola System aims to reduce the high rate of deaths that have been occurring during childbirth in Nigeria, both for mothers and newborns.
SBI delivers both equipment and human capacity building to health institutions across Nigeria with the hope of bridging the shortfall in the availability of state-of-the-art medical equipment and a dearth of skilled manpower to optimally maintain what is available.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Owunari Georgwill expressed joy at the timely intervention of the Coca-Cola System in the healthcare sector. He opined that the top-notch equipment would impact beyond the UPTH and assured that those entrusted would make the most of it.
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He said, “Let me thank the donors, Coca-Cola Nigeria. I understand that the equipment are cutting-edge technology that will aid solution to complex medical conditions. I am certain that this will impact the whole of Niger Delta region.”
He added that the initiative would boost relationships between the government and institutions.
In addition, Onyemelukwe pointed out that kicking off this year’s initiative at Port Harcourt was particularly heartwarming because of the memories evoked by impact stories that have followed the SBI program which was launched in 2018
She said, “We are starting this year’s Safe Birth Initiative at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). The SBI would still reach out to more health institutions within the year. But what makes today an especially happy one for me is that the Coca-Cola System is able to meet specific equipment necessities of the Maternal and Neonatal Care Unit of UPTH.”
She recounted how a Consultant Pediatrician decried the absence of essential equipment, necessary for the healthcare needs of newborns with peculiar challenges like congenital heart failure which could offer them a good chance of survival, which had rendered the medics helpless, and parents hopeless.
“We are pleased to inform that SBI’s intervention has provided two sets of heart and lung machines amongst other lifesaving equipment to ensure that situations of helplessness and hopelessness in neonatal healthcare is now a thing of the past. We are optimistic that the donations today, which would be backed with human capacity building, will ensure that the impact is beyond the UPTH.”
The Safe Birth Initiative was launched in 2018 in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGS, the Federal Ministry of Health, and US-based International NGO, Medshare International, to support and strengthen the country’s healthcare capacity in achieving the SDG goals in relation to maternal and new-born mortalities.
Prior to the launch in Port Harcourt, SBI had so far reached over 56,000 families with over 3,000 mothers and babies impacted through its social investment program. In addition, Coca-Cola Nigeria has successfully upskilled over 200 biomedical engineers and 400 end-users with the requisite knowledge and skills to ensure optimal utilization of the medical equipment, and their effective maintenance.
The Chief Medical Director, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Prof. Henry Ugboma, applauded Coca-Cola for initiating and sustaining the healthcare support initiative, which he said would aid medics in delivering on their duty of saving lives.
He said, “We commend Coca-Cola for strengthening and uplifting the healthcare system in Nigeria with the Safe Birth Initiative. So far, SBI has provided capacity building of our biomedical engineers and technicians, and supported repairs of our broken-down equipment. For this, we remain deeply grateful to Coca-Cola and Medshare for such an excellent intervention.
Some of the hospitals that have benefited from this intervention include National Hospital Abuja, Federal Medical Center, Ebute-Metta, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Wesley Guild Hospital Ilesha, and Alimosho General Hospital. In the coming weeks, SBI will be reaching the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, with more health institutions lined up to benefit from it.
More than 100 Chinese original equipment manufacturers are being wooed for investment, technology and manufacturing capacity to aid growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) made the disclosure through its Director, Project Certification and Authorisation Division and Senior Technical Adviser to the Executive Secretary, Austin Uzoka.
This was detailed in a statement issued by the Board which stated that Uzoka was representing the Executive Secretary, Felix Ogbe, at the 15th China Shale Oil and Gas Summit in Chengdu, China, where he made the disclosure.
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According to Ogbe, the board was seeking to move the relationship between Nigerian oil and gas operators and Chinese manufacturers beyond the conventional buyer-seller model to investment, manufacturing, technology transfer and integration into global supply chains.
He said the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development Act (NOGCDA) guaranteed patronage for oil and gas equipment manufacturing facilities established in Nigeria, adding that such investments could also provide access to opportunities across the Gulf of Guinea.
“We are looking beyond the traditional buyer-seller relationship. What can we build together? We want Chinese companies to see Nigeria not simply as a market for their products, but as a strategic investment destination, a platform for manufacturing and technology development, and a gateway to opportunities across the wider African market,” he said.
He highlighted the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGPS) as a platform for Chinese original equipment manufacturers to establish manufacturing, assembly and service operations in Nigeria.
He said the scheme would provide opportunities for technology transfer, technical arrangements and the integration of Nigerian businesses into the supply chains of Chinese companies.
The ES also identified China’s capabilities in manufacturing, engineering, technology and energy infrastructure as areas that could support Nigeria’s industrial development.
“China has developed tremendous capabilities in manufacturing, engineering, technology and energy infrastructure. We want to explore how those capabilities can be connected with the opportunities that exist in Nigeria, for mutual benefits,” he added.
Nigeria’s local content policy had evolved from increasing Nigerian participation in oil and gas projects to a broader industrial development agenda focused on manufacturing, technology ownership and global competitiveness, he pointed out.
“Nigeria’s local content journey has evolved significantly since the local content law was enacted in 2010. What began primarily as an effort to increase Nigerian participation in the oil and gas industry has developed into a broader industrial development agenda focused on building capabilities, deepening manufacturing, promoting technology ownership and positioning Nigerian businesses to compete within regional and global markets,” he observed.
The engagement formed part of Nigeria’s participation in the 15th China Shale Oil and Gas Summit, held from September 20 to 23 at the Chengdu Century City International Conference Centre.
The summit, themed ‘Empowering Efficient and Green Development via Intelligent Technologies, Innovating to Lead the Shale Oil and Gas Revolution’, provided a platform for Nigerian oil and gas stakeholders to showcase investment opportunities in manufacturing, technology and oil and gas services.
According to the NCDMB, several Chinese OEMs expressed interest in exploring business relationships with Nigerian companies and participating in the country’s growing oil and gas manufacturing ecosystem.
In her closing remarks, the General Manager, Midstream, PCAD, Ms Lekoma Phimia, urged stakeholders to build on the connections established at the session to develop commercially viable and sustainable business relationships.
The NCDMB also used the exhibition to provide prospective investors and industry players with information on Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, local content opportunities and avenues for establishing operations in the country.
The board said the Chengdu engagement was part of efforts to expand Nigeria’s international industrial connections and advance the objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICDA).
It added that its focus was to move the local content agenda from participation to capability, manufacturing, and ultimately technology ownership and regional competitiveness.
NIPCO Group has announced plans to develop a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project in Nigeria, with the proposed development estimated to require more than $3bn in investment.
This statement was made at a press conference on Thursday by the Managing Director of NIPCO Group, Nagendra Verma, who said the proposed project would have an envisaged LNG production capacity of approximately three million tonnes per annum, subject to the outcome of feasibility studies, regulatory approvals and a final investment decision.
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Verma said the project, which would mark NIPCO’s entry into the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) sector, was being considered for locations in the Escravos area of Delta State and the Akwa Ibom region.
“This proposed development is envisaged to comprise an FLNG facility along with associated marine and export infrastructure with the potential to serve both the international LNG market and growing domestic LNG demand in Nigeria. The proposed project is presently envisaged to produce LNG unified LNG of approximately 3 million L per annum, 3 million metric tons per annum. The proposed development is expected to represent a significant investment currently estimated in excess of $3bn.
“The final location shall be determined subsequent to the ongoing feasibility study. We are looking at strategic locations that will facilitate access to upstream gas resources, LNG processing, marine transportation and both international and domestic markets,” he said.
According to him, NIPCO had been evaluating the proposed FLNG project for the past six to nine months and was currently undertaking preliminary technical, commercial and feasibility assessments.
“We are considering various development concepts, technology solutions, financing structures and commercial options with a view to establishing a technically robust and commercially sustainable project,” Verma said.
He said the proposed development would comprise an FLNG facility alongside associated marine and export infrastructure, with the potential to serve international LNG markets as well as Nigeria’s growing domestic gas demand.
“The project is presently envisaged to have an LNG production capacity of approximately three million tonnes per annum.
“However, this remains subject to the outcome of the ongoing feasibility and technical studies, project economics, regulatory approvals and final investment decisions,” he said.
Verma said NIPCO was also evaluating the shipping and logistics infrastructure required to support both export and domestic LNG supply.
The Managing Director said the ongoing assessment covers upstream gas supply and reserves, FLNG technology and configuration, LNG production capacity, marine and export infrastructure, domestic LNG supply opportunities, shipping and logistics requirements, project economics and financing structure.
FCT Generates More IGR Than Six North Central States Combined in Three Years
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) generated more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) than the six states in the North Central geopolitical zone combined between 2023 and 2025, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The FCT recorded a total IGR of ₦849.80 billion during the three-year period, while Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue collectively generated ₦704.42 billion.
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The FCT recorded steady growth in its internally generated revenue throughout the period, rising from ₦211.10 billion in 2023 to ₦282.36 billion in 2024, before reaching ₦356.34 billion in 2025.
For the six North Central states, combined IGR stood at ₦176.55 billion in 2023, increased to ₦214.96 billion in 2024 and rose further to ₦312.91 billion in 2025.
Kwara State recorded the highest cumulative IGR among the six states, generating ₦226.20 billion over the three years.
It was followed by Niger with ₦122.71 billion, Kogi with ₦102.73 billion, Plateau with ₦102.08 billion, Nasarawa with ₦81.58 billion, and Benue with ₦69.12 billion.
The FCT’s three-year IGR was therefore about ₦145.38 billion higher than the combined revenue of the six North Central states.
The figures also show that the combined IGR of the six states increased substantially in 2025, when their total reached ₦312.91 billion, compared with ₦214.96 billion in 2024.
See full list below:
North Central States — Three-Year IGR (2023–2025)
Kwara — ₦226.20 billion
Niger — ₦122.71 billion
Kogi — ₦102.73 billion
Plateau — ₦102.08 billion
Nasarawa — ₦81.58 billion
Benue — ₦69.12 billion
North Central Total — ₦704.42 billion
By Year:
2023 — ₦176.55 billion
2024 — ₦214.96 billion
2025 — ₦312.91 billion
FCT:
2023 — ₦211.10 billion
2024 — ₦282.36 billion
2025 — ₦356.34 billion
Three-year total — ₦849.80 billion
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