President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended GB Foods for establishing the biggest tomato processing factory in Africa in Nigeria. The president said that the investment has affirmed the confidence of foreign investors in Nigeria. Tinubu said this during the inauguration of the GB Foods state-of-the-art integrated tomato processing plant and expanded farm facilities in Gafara, in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security who represented the president, said: Let me say that this is the second time I am coming to Kebbi State in a little over a month. First, I visited a rice mill, the largest in West Africa, and today Im visiting the largest tomato factory in Africa, all in Kebbi State.
Dr. Nasir Idris, Kebbi State Governor was elated and expressed gratitude to the company for engaging 3,335 local out-growers for tomato production in the state and pledged the state governments support to ensure that the plant would operate at maximum capacity.
Vincent Egbe, Chief Executive Officer, GB Foods Nigeria, said that the GB Foods farm and factory in Kebbi generated 75 per cent of the total tomato concentrate produced in Nigeria during the 2022- 2023 season.
Egbe said that the demand still exceeded the supply despite this significant contribution, which highlighted the need for further expansion and advancement in the sector.
He added that in December 2023, the company further solidified its position by expanding its Lagos tomato sachet factory to an unprecedented 100,000 metric tonnes, securing its position as the largest of its kind globally.
