Nestlé Nigeria says increased local sourcing of agricultural raw materials and the use of food processing technologies can strengthen nutrition, support farmers and deepen value addition in the country’s food industry.
The company stated that its Maggi seasoning cubes are produced from locally sourced and fermented soya beans, dismissing public misconceptions that the product is made from chemicals.
Speaking during a media tour of Nestlé Nigeria’s Agbara factory in Lagos on Wednesday, the Culinary Plant Manager, Mr Oluwatobi Sami, explained that the seasoning cubes produced in Nigeria are derived from soya beans sourced mainly from Northern Nigeria and processed through controlled fermentation technology.
According to him, the process replicated traditional African fermentation methods used in condiments such as iru, dawadawa and ogiri.
“What people often call chemicals are actually ingredients and flavours derived from fermented soya beans,” he said.
Sami explained that the production process involves cleaning, softening and fermenting the soya beans under controlled conditions before flavour extraction, drying, blending and compression into cubes.
He noted that the manufacturing process was automated to ensure product safety, consistency and quality and that minimal human contact with the product helps reduce contamination risks while maintaining high manufacturing standards.
According to him, the origin of the product can be traced to the 1880s when Swiss entrepreneur, Julius Maggi, sought ways to address nutritional challenges caused by changing lifestyles during the Industrial Revolution.
“Maggi was created to help reduce cooking time, provide needed nutrients and make meal preparation easier for families.
“It was born out of the need to solve a problem and make nutrition affordable, quick and easy to prepare,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Factory Manager, Nestlé Nigeria Agbara Plant, Mr. Talla Fall, said that the facility employed about 3,000 persons directly, with an equal split between Nestlé staff and external workers.
He noted that more than 1,000 indirect workers are also engaged in logistics and distribution, including drivers and transporters, as this further boosts employment, contributing to the wider economy.
He explained that the factory’s operations have a broader economic impact, supporting thousands of direct and indirect jobs, while stimulating value creation across the supply chain.
Fall also emphasised the company’s commitment to local sourcing and value creation in Nigeria.
GIK/APA