metro
Malicious Facebook Post: Erisco Foods fingers ‘powerful syndicate’
Malicious Facebook Post: Erisco Foods fingers ‘powerful syndicate’
The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods Ltd., Chief Eric Umeofia, says that a powerful syndicate keen on killing his company is behind the “false and malicious’’ social media post against the company.
Speaking to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos on the raging Facebook controversy, Umeofia said that the syndicate, whom he identified as importers of tomato paste had been pulling such pranks over the years.
“Their ultimate goal is to discourage Erisco Foods as Nigeria’s major local tomato paste maker and force Nigeria to depend on imported tomato paste,’’ Umeofia said.
He vowed, however, that he would continue to forge ahead, to make tomato paste locally and discourage importation of the product to save the Nigerian economy.
Umeofia, who is described as Africa’s top tomato paste maker, said that the purported review of ‘Nagiko Tomato Mix’ by a Facebook user, named Chioma Egodi, was apparently another attempt to smear a local brand that had put a Nigerian manufacturer on the map.
Records show that Erisco Foods has had a dominant presence in the tomato paste sector in Angola and Liberia over the years, positioning itself as the fourth largest of its type in the world.
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He lamented that the offensive Facebook post had a tendency to impact negatively on the company, describing the development as “one of the painful experiences of engaging in manufacturing in Nigeria’’.
According to Umeofia, the so called review of ‘Nagiko Tomato Mix’ by Egodi, showed her total lack of knowledge of the ingredients used in the making of tomato paste.
Describing Egodi’s post as baseless and malicious, he said that the write-up was clearly meant to drag Erisco Foods to the mud and destroy one of its flagship products.
“She showed her determination to kill our brand and products so why should I let her go scot-free?
“For the past five years, I’ve not received any credit facility in Nigeria – no loan. For the past three years, I’ve not received one dollar as foreign exchange.
“I’ve been sustaining my local production from my foreign investments in Angola and the United Arab Emirates.”
Narrating how the incident unfolded, Umeofia said that after Egodi’s product review on social media, he reached out to his staff to find out if any complaint had been filed by Egodi.
“I found out that there was none — no product, no batch number, no production number – but a claim that our product is killing people.
“We released a statement that we would not allow our efforts of over 40 years of production to be destroyed by a syndicate of importers who had been fighting our products.
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“We decided to defend our corporate identity by tagging her to the statement.
“Some people advised her to pull down the post that she’s destroying someone’s business but she refused.
“She abused those that had positive comments about our products but made thumbs up for those that criticised it. Then we knew she had a hidden agenda.
Umeofia added: “we had fought tomato paste importers for years because we believe that producing products locally was the best way to support economic growth.
“Should I now sit back and allow someone to destroy what we’ve spent over 10 years building?”
The chief executive officer said that efforts to reach Egodi proved abortive, necessitating Erisco Foods to petition the inspector-general of police to investigate the allegations.
“If my product has been killing people, I should be killed.
“I have over 3,000 workers in my factory and pay over 20,000 people indirectly. How can I allow syndicates to destroy my hard work?”
Umeofia clarified that the product under scrutiny was a tomato mix and not tomato paste and that the former always had sugar as an active ingredient, stressing that the product was certified by NAFDAC.
He displayed an apology letter, purportedly written to Erisco Foods through the Nigeria Police Force, regarding the product review Egodi had posted.
Malicious Facebook Post: Erisco Foods fingers ‘powerful syndicate’
(NAN)
metro
Bandits kill nine civilian JTF members, kidnap three in Sokoto
Bandits kill nine civilian JTF members, kidnap three in Sokoto
At least nine Civilian Joint Task Force members fighting bandits in Sokoto State have been reportedly killed in an ambush, while an unspecified number sustained varying degrees of injury.
It was gathered that three CJTF members were also taken away by the bandits.
A source told our correspondent that the incident occurred last Sunday in Isa Local Government Area of the state.
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The CJTF source added that Isa LGA is a stronghold of bandits and very dangerous for security operatives.
“We lost nine members in an ambush in Isa LGA, many others were wounded and three others were abducted in the attack after our members received a distress call to support security operatives.
“We received the sad news two days ago. Since the beginning of this year, when we were asked by the state government to deploy our members to support the troops in the fight against banditry in the North-West.”
Recall that this was the second time bandits would ambush CJTF men in Sokoto State in two months.
Bandits kill nine civilian JTF members, kidnap three in Sokoto
metro
IPOB declares sit-at-home May 30 to honour Biafra heroes
IPOB declares sit-at-home May 30 to honour Biafra heroes
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared Thursday May 30 as sit-at-home day in South East to honour those who fought in the civil war.
In a statement issued by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, said: “The sit-at-home is an annual event held on May 30th to remember the men and women who died during the Nigerian civil war between 1967 and 1970.
“IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi OkwuChukwu Kanu, urged all Biafrans, friends of Biafra, and residents in Biafra Land to observe the sit-at-home and reflect on the sacrifices made by the fallen heroes.
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“All schools, government offices, private offices, banks, transport unions, market unions, and private individuals are expected to shut down operations on May 30th, except for medical personnel and emergency workers.”
IPOB also called on Christians and traditional worshipers to use the day to pray for the fallen heroes and for Biafra’s independence from Nigeria.
The group warned residents to avoid loitering and stay indoors from 6 am to 6 pm to avoid any confrontation with security forces.
“IPOB members in diaspora are encouraged to organize peaceful rallies and seminars to raise awareness about the Biafran struggle and the ongoing genocide against the Biafran people.
By honoring the heroes and heroines of the Biafran struggle, IPOB hopes to keep their memory alive and continue the fight for Biafra’s freedom and independence, ” the statement added.
IPOB declares sit-at-home May 30 to honour Biafra heroes
metro
Court sends tenant to prison for setting landlord’s house on fire
Court sends tenant to prison for setting landlord’s house on fire
One Dickson Peter has been remanded in a correctional facility for allegedly setting his landlord’s house on fire.
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, ordered the remand of the accused on Thursday.
According to NAN, the police charged 35-year-old peter with two counts of felony and arson.
The Magistrate, Mr M. Mudashiru, who did not take the defendant’s plea due to want in jurisdiction, ordered that he should be remanded in Abolongo Correctional facility, Oyo Town.
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Mudashiru said the remand is pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP.
He adjourned the matter until July 23, for mention.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Femi Oluwadare informed the court that Peter on April 18, at about 12:30a.m, was alleged to have unlawfully set fire to the House of his Landlord, Cepas Okeme and destroyed properties worth N6.5 million.
Oluwadare said after he set the building on fire, it also spread to the next property belonging to Bose Ali ‘ F’ and also destroyed property worth N3.5 million.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of section 443 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000
Court sends tenant to prison for setting landlord’s house on fire
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