By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
14- NOV- 2025

Nigerian Breweries Plc has indicated interest in reviving its long-abandoned brewery facility in Awo-Omamma, Imo State, following renewed economic activities sparked by the commissioning of a new cassava processing plant in the community.

During the official handover of the two-ton-per-day processing facility, the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Thibaut Boidin, highlighted the company’s long-term vision for the area. He explained that the newly delivered cassava plant—constructed and donated by the company—was part of a broader corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at stimulating local productivity, creating jobs, and strengthening community livelihoods. According to him, the project has the potential to generate over ₦500 million annually while positioning Awo-Omamma as a rising centre for cassava-based enterprise.

Boidin expressed confidence in the increasing socio-economic stability of Imo State, noting that sustained progress could pave the way for fresh capital inflows, refurbishment of the dormant brewery, and eventual resumption of production of popular beverage brands—bringing back employment and commercial vibrancy to the area.

Reacting to the development, the Imo State Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, and Investment, Barrister Rex Anunobi, commended Nigerian Breweries for its commitment to community development. He reiterated the state government’s readiness to partner with the company to resolve previous challenges that hindered the brewery’s operations. Anunobi also outlined ongoing reforms—including improved road access, friendlier business policies, and reduced tax burdens—designed to attract investors and strengthen the state’s industrial base.

He reaffirmed that Imo State remains open for business and encouraged Nigerian Breweries to take advantage of the evolving investment climate to fully restore brewery operations in Awo-Omamma.

Inflation is projected to moderate further in the near term, supported by sustained exchange rate stability and improved food supplies from the ongoing harvest season, according to the Economic Intelligence Unit of Access Bank Plc.

Headline inflation is expected to ease to 16.84% year-over-year in October 2025, from 18.02% in September, representing a 1.18 percentage point decline. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is projected to rise by 2.1 points to 129.8 points in October 2025 from the previous month.

The methodology used by the report entails the application of an autoregressive model using lags of the composite consumer price index (CPI) and a survey-based inflation expectation within the same product definitions adopted by the NBS.

Nigeria experienced a rare reversal in its inflation trend in September 2025, as data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed the nation’s first month-on-month food deflation in more than 13 years.

According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, headline inflation eased significantly to 18.02%, down from 20.12% in August, one of the sharpest monthly declines in recent times.

The slowdown was largely driven by a notable drop in food inflation, which fell to 16.87% in September from 21.87% the previous month. Even more striking was the -1.57% month-on-month food inflation rate, indicating an actual fall in food prices — the first negative reading since February 2012, when it stood at -0.13%.

Analysts attribute this moderation to several factors, including seasonal harvest trends, statistical base effects, and the recent rebasing of the inflation basket by the NBS.

The ongoing harvest season across key agricultural regions boosted the supply of staples such as maize, yam, rice, and vegetables, commodities that typically experience price drops during this period.

Additionally, the rebasing of the inflation basket, which updates the list of goods and services used to measure inflation to reflect current consumption habits, helped realign price weightings across categories. This adjustment, combined with a high comparative base from last year, amplified the overall slowdown.

The consistent fall in prices of major food items highlights the impact of improved market supply and seasonal factors, underscoring a temporary but welcome relief in Nigeria’s persistent inflationary pressures.