Guinness Nigeria raises alarm over invasion of its Benin plants

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Guinness Nigeria Plc in Benin City, Edo State Brewery, has `raised alarm over the disruption of its operation last by officials of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, who mounted a blockade at the entrance to the brewery.
The blockade stalled exit and entry into the premises for several hours.
The contingent was led by Mrs. Itohan Ogbeide, Chairman, Ikpoba-Okha council who addressed the media, claiming that Guinness Nigeria has been obstructing the council from collection of fees from third party logistics companies engaged in the provision of haulage services.
On her part, Mrs. Ogbeide said that the protest was to demand their rights from management of Guinness Nigeria to allow them collect haulage fee from trucks that convey their products.
Mr. Kingsley Imade, the Plant Manager at the Brewery later held a meeting with Mrs. Ogbeide, following which the blockade was lifted and operations at the Brewery resumed.
Before departing the brewery, Mrs. Ogbeide, however, issued an ultimatum to Guinness Nigeria to comply with her directive on or before July 29, 2015, or face further disruptions to its business operations.
 On his part, Sesan Sobowale, Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria, said “We are taken aback by this unlawful disruption of our activities ostensibly to blackmail the company to assume the role of an agent for revenue collection from the logistics services providers. The blockade is also in violation of a subsisting court order restraining the council from mounting blockades at our premises and demanding levies allegedly payable by these companies from Guinness Nigeria.
“Guinness Nigeria Plc is a responsible, law abiding corporate citizen and has operated its business peacefully for several decades in Benin City. While we continue to explore options for peaceful and legal resolution of this issue, we are also consulting our legal advisers to protect our business against further unlawful invasion of our business premises.
“The invasion of our business premises which we witnessed yesterday has become recurrent, and we have had to call the attention of the Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to this practice by Ikpoba Okha council officials. The governor was emphatic about the council having no business blocking our business premises in a bid to collect third party levies. His Excellency acknowledged Guinness Nigeria as the second largest employer of labour in Edo State, after the state government, and a major private sector contributor to internally generated revenue.

“As a law abiding corporate citizen, Guinness Nigeria Plc hereby appeals to the leadership of the council to act in compliance with applicable laws. We understand our responsibilities, and always act lawfully and with integrity in every aspect of our business. This same principle has guided all our engagements with the Ikpoba Okha council and we will advise the council to engage directly with haulage service providers at their premises on any matters concerning them in compliance with all applicable laws.”

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