Taraba Govt To Privatise Highland Tea ‘Africa’s Top’ Tea-producing Company
The Taraba State government said it has concluded plans to Privatise Taraba Beverages Nigeria Ltd, the Africa’s Top Tea producing Company,producers of Mambilla Highland Tea, to private investors.
Ezikiel Iliya, the Managing Director of the Taraba Investment and Property Development, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking to newsmen in Jalingo. He explained that the function of the agency was to build government corporations and transfer them to private investors.
This decision was greeted with public criticism, especially from the opposition and Host Community.
According to research, the Beverages Company Ltd, which produces Mambilla Highland Tea, is one of Africa’s largest green tea sourcing companies, handling over 1.5 million kilos of tea annually. It is located at Kakara, Sardauna Local Government of the state.
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However, Iliya added that more of the state’s companies will be privatized to build new ones. According to him, privatisation is the most common policy that can sustain any public business, stressing that the intention of the state government was to privatise its shares and equity to develop more companies.
“We are not selling the company in its entirety but to transfer ownership structure from the government to private individuals,” he said.
He added that 75 per cent of shares would be sold off while 25 per cent would still be owned by the Taraba State government. Iliya noted that the state government will ensure it hands over the company to worthy entities to ensure its sustainability.
Iliya also announced that the repairs on the Green House, producers of Taraba Vegetables, had begun, in preparation for its privatisation.
Taraba Govt To Sell Off Highland Tea ‘Africa’s Top’ Tea-producing Company
