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Coca-Cola Sells Chivita, Hollandia as UAC Makes Bold Power Play in Nigeria’s Beverage Market
The United Africa Company (UAC) of Nigeria PLC has announced its acquisition of Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited) from The Coca-Cola Company, marking a strategic milestone in UAC’s expansion within Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The landmark deal, disclosed in a corporate filing to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Wednesday, is still subject to regulatory approvals.
According to the NGX statement, the transaction is in line with Coca-Cola’s global shift toward a more agile, asset-light model, with increased focus on scaling high-potential brands.
“This move aligns with The Coca-Cola Company’s strategy to operate a flexible and asset-light model, concentrating on brands with the greatest growth potential,” the filing stated.
Despite divesting from CHI Limited, Coca-Cola reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Africa, revealing plans to invest $1 billion in Nigeria over the next five years—contingent on a stable and enabling business environment.
“This investment reflects the significance of Africa as a long-term growth opportunity for the Coca-Cola system,” the company added.
Commenting on the acquisition, UAC Group Managing Director Fola Aiyesimoju described the move as a major opportunity to drive value and strengthen the company’s presence in the FMCG space.
“As a company with deep roots in Africa, we are committed to the continent’s economic growth. The acquisition of CHI Limited, a leading player in the dairy and juice market, is a key step forward,” Aiyesimoju said.
He expressed confidence in CHI Limited’s strong foundation and applauded the team behind its success.
“This acquisition offers the potential to build on CHI’s legacy of excellence and innovation,” he added, acknowledging the contributions of its management and staff.
CHI Limited Managing Director Eelco Weber also reacted positively to the development, noting the company’s impressive trajectory over the years, with Chivita and Hollandia becoming household names in their segments.
“I want to thank our more than 5,000 employees for their dedication, which has earned us recognition as a Gold-rated Great Place to Work,” Weber said.
He expressed optimism about the company’s future under UAC’s stewardship.
“We are excited about the future of Chivita|Hollandia. With UAC’s backing and the strength of our team, we anticipate continued growth and innovation,” he added.
Sources confirm that the transaction was supported by top-tier legal and financial advisers. UAC was represented by Fasken Martineau LLP and Templars, while Citi acted as Coca-Cola’s exclusive financial adviser, with legal counsel from McDermott Will & Emery.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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