The recent proclamation by Procter and Gamble to halt its operations in Nigeria triggers a sense of déjà vu among consumers, instigating concerns over potential job losses and an upsurge in prices for essential items like diapers, sanitary pads, and other household goods.
After the earlier departure of GSK, Nigeria experienced a staggering 1000% surge in the cost of pharmaceutical products, intensifying worries about the repercussions of another major consumer manufacturing company exiting due to macroeconomic challenges.
**Public Reaction on Social Media**
The online response from Nigerians reflects a profound sense of apprehension and economic anxiety. @StephAdamu expresses worry about the imminent increase in consumer goods prices, drawing parallels with GSK’s departure.

“The potential exit of Procter & Gamble in Nigeria is going to deal with us terribly. It’s already expensive buying Always sanitary pads and pampers, then imagine when they leave. We can all see the result of prices of drugs after GSK left. How are we going to handle purchases of products like Always sanitary towels, pampers, Ariel and co? When will Nigeria as a country grow beyond importing everything and manufacture our own products locally? The coming year is going to be a tussle.”
Another user, @MissPearls, states, “GSK left, Equino left, Sanofi left, Procter and Gamble (P&G) is leaving too. Many more companies will fold up or leave. Unemployment is skyrocketing, your currency is almost becoming useless. Which way forward?”
@SportsDokita underscores the potential rise in job insecurity and the discouraging effect on foreign investors, stating, “P&G is the latest company to close down its operations in Nigeria and will now revert to IMPORTATION, which will make their products more expensive. Imagine the number of Nigerians that have lost their jobs just because these guys are leaving. Tinubu keeps making the economy unbearable and says he’s looking for foreign investors when the ones here are freaking LEAVING!”
@Mavisikpeme corroborates previous thoughts on the new development, saying, “P&G leaving Nigeria means 5,000 Nigerians have lost their jobs. This was a company producing the likes of Ariel detergent, Oral B toothpaste, Always pad, pampers, to mention but a few. Renewed shege promax!”
**Economic Impact Analysis**
Emphasizing the economic impact the FMCG company would have on the job market as a whole, @ChijiokeIke gave a breakdown of the company’s employment history.
“P&G entered the Nigeria space in 1992, employing only 40 people in their Lagos office. Fast forward 10 years, they had employed a total of 1800 people from the Nigerian labor market. In 2015, the APC government of Buhari took over from PDP promising Change. As of 2018, P&G laid off over its first batch of 120 staff, shutting down their biggest plant in Ogun state. As at the time, this plant was the single biggest American-owned non-oil investment in Nigeria. Fast forward to 2021, they conducted another round of redundancies in Ibadan. Now in 2023, they have finally thrown in the towel due to the obscenely high cost of operations and corrupt practices slowing down their supply chain. Over 1500 people will lose their jobs. That’s 1500 families not sure of their next source of income. That’s 7500 people not sure about how they will feed next year. Let’s not even mention the local economies that will be affected.”
**Public Advisory**
In light of the impending closure, @KBT_BANKOLE urged people to stock up on essential items, stating, “With the closure of operations of Procter & Gamble in Nigeria, the prices of FMCGs like sanitary pads, baby diapers, detergents, toothpaste, etc., are about to skyrocket. Do you guys realize how serious this is? Please stock up on these items in bulk NOW if you can. Renewed shege.”
@hispri0rity, echoing the sentiments, anticipated a triple increase in prices for various products. “Procter & Gamble is leaving Nigeria. Vicks lemon plus, Vicks blue, Pringles, Pampers, Ariel, Always, Oral B, Gillette Safeguard, etc., will triple in prices.”
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