Bata Back In Nigeria, Builds $1m Plant In Abuja

It is no longer news that Bata is a company which was involved in the manufacturing of shoe accessories in the 60s and 70s, but stakeholders of Bata shoe accessories have launched a $1m fund for the building of an Abuja factory to tackle shoe importation problem in the country.

Mr. Tobe Eze who spoke on behalf of the stakeholders said, ‘‘Bata is a company which was involved in the manufacturing of shoe accessories in the 60s and 70s but left the country in the 80s due to change of policies.’’

While speaking to journalists at the company’s outlet in Abuja, Tobe stated that the company will employ 128 youths in the Abuja plant, adding that that six were already undergoing training.

“We are part of the business owners that brought Bata back to Nigeria; Bata was in the country from the 60s but left around the 80s; for now, we are proud to be associated with this brand and we just opened a shop in Abuja.

“We are setting up a shoe plant and an industrial park in Abuja with $1m; by June, we will have all the brands been produced here in Nigeria and employ 128 Nigerian youths to manage the production in the shoe factory; six are already undergoing training.”

He further added that the company had put in place management and a lot of systems to ensure that the business continues to exist in the country.

A customer, Joy Aka, recalled that she used Bata while she was growing up and when she heard it was back, she decided to try its products and see if they were like the ones in the 80s.