FG names Nigeria's top 100 firms

The Federal Government has named Dangote Group, FirstBank, Chevron and Elizade among the top 100 companies operating in the country, even as it disqualified trading companies and those with labour issues.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC), which revealed this in Abuja on Monday, also named MTN, Globacom, Chi Group, Nigerian Brewery, Nigeria Flourmills, UAC, APM Terminal, Eko Supreme, Mamuda Industries, Doff Foods, Wemco, Kolawaole Enterprises and Indorama as part of the companies which have been recognised.

The FRC's Business Assessment Committee Chairman, Mr Jim Obaze, did not specify if this development will accord the affected companies any special privilege aside dining with President Goodluck Jonathan at the villa next Monday.

However, it was learnt that this group will form the corps of the nation's private sector operators to collaborate with the government in its Vision 20:20:20.

'Some of the leaders include Chevron in oil and gas industry, we have MTN and Globacom in telecoms, we have FirstBank in the banking industry, Nigerian Breweries in the food and beverage industry, among others.

'It is a business assessment issue and we are looking at the top 100 businesses in Nigeria to be celebrated for recognition which is an initiative of President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

'It has been a very tight exercise for us. Since 1960, our businesses have become global. It is important that there should be global recognition and global awards, though some countries have looked at it from the point of award but in Nigeria we are looking at it from the point of recognition.

'The celebration of these institutions will promote business enterprise in Nigeria; it will also foster economic and social development and definitely lead to the general well-being of Nigerians,' Obaze said.