Business
Abia Govt to resuscitate cocoa processing industry
The Abia Government says it will resucitate the state-owned cocoa processing industry to boost production of the commodity and enhance economic fortunes of the State.
The Vanguard reported that the State Deputy Governor, Mr. Ikechukwu Emetu, announced this on Tuesday during a meeting with the members of the State Cocoa Transformation Committe in Umuahia.
He said that Nigeria was the largest exporter of cocoa after Cote D’Ivoire, hence the state government was poised to explore the entire value chain in the production and processing of the commodity.
He added that government would provide funding and training for cocoa farmers to adopt improved ways of farming to boost production of the produce.
“We are determined to make Abia State one of the largest producers of cocoa in Nigeria,” he said.
Emetu said that the meeting was to acquaint the farmers with government’s policy thrust on cocoa production and as well remind them of the imperatives of cocoa production.
He explained that cocoa production contributed towards enhancing food security, good nutrition, organic fertilisers, raw materials for industries and served as a source of foreign exchange.
The deputy governor expressed displeasure over the leasing out of Agbozu Cocoa Estate, a government- owned property, in Uzuakoli, Bende Local Government Area of the State.
He directed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Okey Ihedioha, to furnish him with the lease agreement for further necessary action.
In his remarks, Ihedioha said that the state was blessed with cocoa producing belts in areas such as Ibere community in Ikwuano LGA and Itumbuzo community in Bende LGA.
He said that with encouragement and adequate support from the government, the state would record improved cocoa production.
Mr. John Kalu, the State Chairman of the Cocoa Farmers Association, said that Abia was ranked 8th among cocoa producing states which created room for improvement.
Kalu urged the government to subsidise the rates of inputs and distribute improved cocoa seedlings to farmers for mass production and bumper harvest.
The representative of Cocoa Institute Of Nigeria, Mr. Prince Olaniyi, expressed disappointment that the only government-owned cocoa plantation had been leased out .
He said out of the cocoa-producing states, Abia had one of the best cocoa seeds nationwide .
Business
FedEx founder and former boss Fred Smith dies aged 80
Born in 1944, Mr Smith started FedEx with 389 staff and 14 small planes that carried 186 packages from Memphis to 25 cities within the US.
Image credit: Getty Images
Fred Smith, founder of the US parcel delivery giant Federal Express, has died at the age of 80, the company has announced.
Mr Smith founded the firm in 1973 having previously served in the US Marine Corps.
He ran the company as CEO until 2022.”Fred was more than just the pioneer of an industry and the founder of our great company.
He was the heart and soul of FedEx,” current boss Raj Subramaniam wrote in a memo to staff.
Born in 1944, Mr Smith started FedEx with 389 staff and 14 small planes that carried 186 packages from Memphis to 25 cities within the US.
(BBC)
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is expected to name a new spokesperson soon, following the resignation of the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer (CCCO), Olufemi Soneye.
In a statement made available to the press in Abuja on Saturday, Soneye thanked his former employer and colleagues for their support during his tenure as CCCO.
He stated that his decision to step down was to enable him to devote more time to his family and attend to personal responsibilities that require his closer presence.
The statement read: “Dear Esteemed Colleagues, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you all for the unwavering support, professionalism, and genuine commitment you’ve shown in helping to shape and amplify the NNPC Ltd story over the past 20 months.
“Your role in building a vibrant and effective communications presence for our national energy company has been nothing short of invaluable.
“I wish to inform you that I have stepped aside from my role as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd. This decision will allow me to devote more time to my family and attend to personal responsibilities that now require my closer presence.
“It has been a profound honour to serve both the Company and our country and to contribute in my own way to the ongoing transformation of NNPC Ltd.
I am deeply grateful for the trust reposed in me, the opportunities granted, and the incredible professionals—both within and outside the organization—with whom I have worked.
“I remain a steadfast supporter and ambassador of NNPC Ltd wherever I go. I enjoin you, dear colleagues, to continue your robust, balanced, and constructive reportage in support of the Company’s noble mission and strategic role in Nigeria’s energy future.”
Soneye was appointed as NNPCL’s spokesman in October 2023, following a company-wide reorganisation that saw him replace Garba Muhammad.When contacted by Tribune Online, Soneye confirmed the news, saying, “Yes, my bro! E ku weekend.”
Heineken has lost operational control and withdrawn its staff from facilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), CNN on Saturday quoted that the Dutch brewer announced on Friday.
In March, the company had suspended operations in three eastern cities, citing safety concerns after breweries were damaged and depots raided during clashes between government forces and rebels.
On Friday, Heineken said the situation had worsened. Armed groups have taken control of its sites in Bukavu and Goma—eastern Congo’s largest cities—as well as surrounding areas.
“The conditions required to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present and as of 12th June 2025, we have lost operational control,” it said in a statement.
Heineken’s local unit, Bralima, continues to operate in parts of the country not affected by the fighting. The company said it is monitoring developments closely.
Heineken owns four breweries in the DRC, producing its namesake beer along with local brands such as Primus. It previously said its Bukavu facilities employed about 1,000 people directly and indirectly.
“Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our employees,” Friday’s statement read.
Reuters also reported, “We have withdrawn all remaining staff from these sites and we have continued to support them financially.”
Nearly 14 per cent of Heineken’s total revenue comes from its Middle East and Africa operations, with Congo—home to over 100 million people—a significant market.
Before the suspension, operations in Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira represented roughly one-third of Heineken’s business in the country.
Conflict in eastern Congo has intensified in 2025, with the M23 rebel group making major territorial gains, sparking fears of broader regional instability.
Congo accuses Rwanda of backing M23 with troops and weapons—allegations Rwanda has consistently denied.
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