Olufemi Adeyemi
Nestlé Nigeria has moved to address long-standing concerns about the ingredients used in its popular Maggi seasoning cubes, assuring consumers that the product is manufactured using locally sourced agricultural inputs and food-processing methods rooted in both traditional practices and modern technology.
The clarification came during a media tour of the company's Agbara factory in Lagos, where journalists were given a detailed look at how Maggi cubes are produced and the role local farmers play in the manufacturing process.
Speaking during the tour, Nestlé Nigeria's Culinary Plant Manager, Oluwatobi Sami, said misconceptions about the composition of Maggi cubes have persisted for years, particularly claims that the product contains harmful chemical additives.
According to him, many of the substances consumers often identify as "chemicals" are actually flavour compounds naturally produced through fermentation.
"What many consumers describe as chemical additives are naturally occurring flavour compounds produced during the fermentation of soya beans," he explained.
Sami noted that soya beans used in the production of Maggi cubes in Nigeria are sourced primarily from farmers in the northern part of the country. He explained that the manufacturing process combines indigenous African food-processing knowledge with advanced industrial technology to achieve consistent quality and safety standards.
Drawing comparisons with traditional condiments such as iru, dawadawa and ogiri, he said the fermentation process used in producing Maggi is inspired by methods that have existed across African communities for generations.
The production process begins with cleaning and softening the soya beans before they undergo controlled fermentation. The resulting flavours are then extracted, dried and blended with other ingredients before being compressed into seasoning cubes ready for packaging and distribution.
Sami further explained that the Agbara facility relies heavily on automation, reducing direct human contact with products during production. This, he said, minimizes contamination risks while ensuring compliance with global food safety and quality requirements.
Providing historical context about the Maggi brand, the plant manager traced its origins to the late nineteenth century. He said Swiss entrepreneur Julius Maggi developed the brand during the Industrial Revolution to help families prepare nutritious meals more quickly and affordably amid changing social and economic conditions.
According to Sami, the brand was created to simplify cooking without compromising nutritional value, making wholesome meals more accessible to households.
Nestlé Nigeria's Category Development Manager, Ifeoluwa Seyi-Obembe, also emphasized the nutritional role Maggi continues to play in consumers' diets.
She revealed that the product was originally formulated to address nutritional deficiencies and remains fortified with essential micronutrients such as zinc and iodine.
Seyi-Obembe reiterated the company's commitment to maintaining high standards of food safety and quality assurance while increasing the use of locally sourced raw materials across its operations.
She highlighted several Maggi variants currently available in Nigeria, including Star, Chicken, Shrimp, Mixpy, Signature Jollof and Chicken Powder, noting that each product is tailored to suit different culinary preferences and cooking styles.
According to her, the goal remains helping consumers prepare meals they enjoy while adding convenience and flavour to everyday cooking.
Beyond product manufacturing, Nestlé officials used the opportunity to highlight the company's economic impact.
Factory Manager Talla Fall disclosed that the Agbara plant directly employs approximately 3,000 people, with permanent and outsourced workers accounting for nearly equal proportions of the workforce.
Fall said Nestlé's investments in local sourcing and domestic production are contributing significantly to job creation, skills development and growth within Nigeria's food-processing sector.
He added that stronger partnerships with local farmers and processors are helping to build a more resilient agricultural value chain while supporting broader economic development objectives.
The factory tour offered journalists a first-hand view of Nestlé's operations and reinforced the company's position that increased use of locally sourced agricultural commodities can drive sustainable industrial growth, improve nutrition outcomes and create wider economic opportunities across Nigeria's food sector.
Nescafé Deepens Sustainability Drive
Beyond its food products, Nestlé also reported significant progress in the sustainability of its coffee business through the latest Nescafé Plan 2030 Progress Report.
According to the report, 53 per cent of Nescafé's green coffee in 2025 was sourced from farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices. The increase was attributed to expanded field programmes and stronger engagement with coffee-growing communities.
More than 1,600 Nescafé agronomists and field staff provided training and technical support to farmers in 15 countries, helping them implement regenerative farming methods aimed at improving soil health, strengthening resilience to climate change and boosting long-term productivity.
The company reported an 18.3 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with its green coffee supply compared to its 2018 baseline.
Commenting on the milestone, Nescafé's Head of Sustainability, Antje Shaw, said:
"With more than half of our green coffee sourced from farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices in 2025, Nescafé has reached a major milestone."
She added:
"This shows how we are working with farmers to scale regenerative agriculture across our coffee supply chain. We aim to support farmers in this transition, strengthen resilience to climate change and help secure Nestlé's long-term access to coffee, a key growth driver for the company."
To improve farm productivity and climate resilience, Nescafé distributed 20.3 million coffee plantlets in 2025, helping farmers replace aging coffee trees with newer varieties better equipped to withstand disease and changing weather conditions.
The report also revealed that 94.3 per cent of Nescafé coffee was responsibly sourced, with supply chains traceable to identified farmer groups and independently verified to meet Nestlé's sourcing requirements.
Within its manufacturing operations, the company reported that 98.6 per cent of electricity used across Nescafé coffee production sites came from renewable sources, contributing to further reductions in emissions.
Nescafé also highlighted efforts to strengthen human rights protections within coffee-growing communities. In 2025, the company partnered with Terre des Hommes to develop the Nescafé Plan Child Protection Framework, aimed at reinforcing child protection systems across coffee supply chains.
In 2026, the company extended its collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote labour rights and improve working conditions for coffee farmers and workers.
Roy Tjan, Child Rights and Business Global Advisor at Terre des Hommes, said:
"We believe in supporting systems that protect children today and help secure better opportunities for the future."
He added:
"Our partnership with Nescafé reinforces this belief by integrating the company's child protection efforts on the ground with the community and public State systems already in place."
Similarly, Ockert Dupper, Global Programme Manager of the ILO's Vision Zero Fund, emphasized the importance of collaboration in improving labour standards.
"Evidence-based and participatory approaches are essential to achieving lasting improvements in working conditions," he said.
"Partnerships such as the one with Nescafé play a key role in enabling these approaches to be implemented effectively and at scale."
Through the Nescafé Plan 2030, Nestlé says it aims to build a more sustainable, resilient and responsible coffee supply chain while supporting farmers, protecting communities and securing the future of coffee production worldwide.