Reckitt Benckiser deepens distribution of health products with N900m warehouse

Reckitt Benckiser, manufacturer of world leading health and hygiene products has invested N900 million in warehouse and logistical infrastructure as part of effort to boost distribution chain and adequate penetration of its products in Nigeria and West African markets.

The newly inaugurated warehouse which serves as the main distribution centre and logistical infrastructure located in Agbara in Ado-Ota Local Government Area of Ogun, a gateway to West African market and Nigerian economic nerve centre – Lagos, was conceived as a way of reaching millions of existing and new consumers residents in Nigeria and West African coast.

With improved production of health and hygiene products such as Dettol, Harpic, Mortein, Airwick, Durex, Garviscon, among others, Reckitt Benckiser intends to increase production capacity, create more wealth, job opportunities through aggressive penetration of both Nigerian and West African markets with a view to increasing the nation’s gross domestic product and earn more foreign exchange for the country.

Speaking at the inauguration of a N900 million distribution centre and logistical infrastructure held in Agbara recently, Rahul Murgai, General Manager, Reckitt Benckiser, said, “We believe that these investments will scale up our manufacturing by facilitating bigger production and all these efforts should create more jobs to help grow state and federal economies.

“At Reckitt Benckiser, our vision is to provide our customers with innovative products and solutions for healthier lives and happier homes. And having been in Nigeria for 50 years, we are happy to invest in a scale manufacturing facility here in Agbara, Ogun state, and the Company still remains committed to Nigeria. We see Nigeria as epicenter of Africa’s growth and especially Ogun state as the gateway to Nigeria and Africa.

“Hence, we have invested N900 million in building a world class distribution and logistical infrastructure. For all our brands, we have partnered with Ogun state, Ministry of Health, Nigerian Medical Association and save children on various initiatives and these include: ‘Dettol Saving Lives with Stop Diarrhoea’, ‘Mortein Scaled Awareness Building for Malaria Prevention’.

Responding, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state declared that additional investment as being undertaken by the Company confirmed intensive economic drive currently embarked by government and a further confirmation to the status of Ogun state as preferred investment destination in the country, adding that Government would do more to improve on ease of doing business.

He said, “It is specially commendable because it is in tandem with one vital plank of our five cardinal programmes, which seek to drive the industrialization process in our State. We are more particularly delighted that the coming on board of the warehouse operations will further act as a boost to the efforts of our administration towards employment generation.”

RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta