Abia State Governor Alex Otti has vowed full state support for Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc after a fire incident disrupted operations at the company’s facility in Aba, pledging that the government will stand with one of its largest private employers through recovery and rebuilding.
The Governor, who visited the affected plant on Thursday, walked through the damaged sections alongside NB management and emergency response teams. While the exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation, preliminary reports indicate that swift intervention by the company’s internal fire unit and the Abia State Fire Service prevented the inferno from spreading to critical production lines and nearby warehouses.
Addressing plant officials and workers, Otti described NB as “a strategic economic partner” that provides thousands of direct and indirect jobs across Abia’s value chain — from farmers to distributors. “When NB hurts, Abia hurts. And when NB recovers, Abia’s economy gets stronger,” he said. “We will support you to get back to full capacity in the shortest possible time.”
The Governor directed relevant ministries to collaborate with NB to expedite permits, technical assessments, and any necessary waivers for the replacement of equipment and restoration of operations. He also asked the State Emergency Management Agency to liaise with the company on safety audits and staff welfare for any workers temporarily displaced by the incident. No lives were lost, but part of the facility sustained significant material damage.
NB’s management thanked the state for the solidarity, noting that the Aba facility is vital to its South East distribution network. The company assured consumers and distributors that contingency plans had been activated to minimize supply disruptions while repairs commenced. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the highest safety standards and to rebuilding with upgraded fire prevention systems.
For Abia, the visit underscores Otti’s economic message: protect jobs, secure investments, and respond quickly when industry faces setbacks. State officials said a joint technical committee would be set up within 48 hours to coordinate recovery timelines and incentives.
As the cleanup begins, the Governor’s pledge sends a clear signal to the private sector: Abia will not leave its industrial anchors to weather crises alone. With government backing and NB’s resilience, stakeholders expect the fire-affected plant to roar back to life — and keep jobs and revenue flowing in the state.
