Tensions rise as Enugu community protests against Nigerian breweries over unfulfilled agreements

DDM News

On Sunday, a youth leader was arrested as members of the Umuezeani Community in Ameke Ngwo, Enugu Stat, staged a protest against Nigerian Breweries Plc, accusing the company of instigating unrest in their community.

The protest was monitored by Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), which gathered that the community also accused the brewery of failing to honor agreements reached during the tenure of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

They appealed to the current Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, to address their concerns.

Comrade Bethrand Agu, the Secretary of the community, explained the reasons behind the demonstration.

He revealed that two years ago, the community had taken drastic action by shutting down the brewery’s operations due to alleged marginalization.

According to Agu, the grievances ranged from unemployment and diversion of contracts meant for locals to the alleged fueling of internal disputes within the community.

Agu recounted how Governor Ugwuanyi’s intervention at the time led to a resolution.

“The former Governor directed Ama Brewery to release economic empowerment packages to our community, and they complied.

“However, since his administration ended, the brewery’s management, led by Mr. Peter Ani, has reversed those commitments.

“Contracts that were supposed to benefit the host community are now being diverted for personal gain,” he said.

The protesters demanded immediate action from both Governor Peter Mbah and the management of Nigerian Breweries.

Agu stressed that the community was simply seeking their due rights and accused the company of neglecting its corporate responsibilities.

He further noted that despite the brewery’s long-standing presence in the area, no member of the community has been employed by the company.

The situation escalated when security forces were reportedly brought in to suppress the protest.

Agu alleged that soldiers and police officers from the 9th Mile Division were deployed on the orders of the Brewery Manager, Mr. Ani, to intimidate the community.

During the confrontation, a youth leader, Mr. Nnamdi Amanoh, was arrested and taken into custody.

“Our attempts to secure his release have been unsuccessful,” Agu said.

“We are calling on the Governor to intervene and protect us from these acts of intimidation by Ama Brewery.”

When contacted, Joy Egolum, the Corporate Affairs Manager (East) for Nigerian Breweries Plc, stated that she had no prior knowledge of the protest.

She requested further information but had not provided any additional comments as of the time of this report.

The community has vowed to continue advocating for their rights and urged the state government to hold the brewery accountable for its promises.

They called for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict to ensure peace and fairness in the relationship between the company and its host community.

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