Dear Mr. President it is with deep joy in our hearts that we write to congratulate Your Excellency for taking some tough but necessary decisions through the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop the abuse of our nation’s FOREX window with a view to stopping the indiscriminate dumping of substandard products into our beloved nation by questionable ubiquitous traders disguising as investors who are only interested in making humungous profits out of Nigeria without any interest in developing Nigeria’s fortunes through local manufacturing activities and generating massive employment like genuine investors such as our humble selves.
Mr.President Sir, ….as Nigerian industries begin recovery to boom times, we are glad to report that within the short period that the new policy took effect (from June 23 to date), our sales and production has scaled up significantly from the near comatose levels it had been for years. We appeal to Mr. President to remain steadfast and focused and push this policy of encouraging, supporting and protecting Nigerian industries and the manufacturing sector to a conclusive end so that the country can witness a rebirth of our local and indigenous industries while saving the nation’s hard-earned foreign exchange and national reserves. We still have a long way to go but these are important first steps that clearly show the patriotic path that you have chosen to lead us through and Insha Allah, we shall support you to make Nigeria Great again by turning Nigeria from the biggest tomato paste importer in the world to the biggest tomato paste exporter from Nigerian soil.
Erisco Foods Limited has an initial installed capacity of 240, 000 metric tonnes per annum factory in Oregun, Lagos state. It is the first of its kind and the largest tomato factory in Africa. Unfortunately, we are presently operating at just over 10 percent capacity. Apart from producing and packaging our own range of products in tins and sachets, our production capacity will provide genuine importers, packagers and bulk traders of tomato paste the opportunity to get their products processed and packaged right here in Nigeria without the pains of procuring scarce foreign exchange to import packaged tomato paste from Europe and Asia by exporting our labour and importing poverty like armed robbery, kidnappings, militancy and terrorism etc. into Nigeria.
We, the promoters of Erisco Foods believe that Nigeria has the capacity to provide our dear nation basic food supplies such as tomato products and even generate excess for exportation to other countries if the government compels positive backward integration agenda into the agro-business sector, especially the tomato subsector. This was done and achieved successfully in the cement industry. Besides, Nigerians will receive better nutrition and stay healthier if we eat our own home grown food products.
The Journey is still long but as long as Nigerians and relevant agencies join in this noble campaign we shall be self-sufficient in no distant time. These agencies include: Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food And Drugs Administration (NAFDAC), and the Immigration Service etc. If everyone is made to fall in line with your vision of a self-sustaining and industrialised nation, Nigeria will before long not only be able to meet all her needs but also have more than enough to export and earn even more FOREX.
Nigerians, change today and buy made –in – Nigeria products
Once Again, Thank you Mr, President for these noble strides so early in your administration.
God Bless President Muhammadu Buhari!
God Bless Nigeria!!!
For: Erisco Foods Limited:
Chief Eric Umeofia (Ikuku Oma, Amichi)
President/Chief Executive Officer
Post Script
NOTICE TO GENUINE IMPORTERS, PACKAGERS AND BULK TRADERS OF TOMATO PASTE
We are calling on all importers of tomato paste to come and take advantage of our ultra-modern tomato paste manufacturing facilities to produce their tomato pastes in their own brand names. What you are going all the way to China to produce with our scarce Foreign Exchange can be produced and packaged better, faster and cheaper right here in Nigeria. Hurry as it is first come, first served!
