NEWS
After 17 Years of Silence, Okin Biscuits Roars Back to Life as Production Resumes in Offa
After 17 long years of silence, one of Nigeria’s once-popular biscuit brands, Okin Biscuits, is finally making a dramatic return as production has resumed at its factory in Offa, Kwara State.
The historic breakthrough followed the successful rehabilitation of one of the company’s production lines, which had remained dormant for nearly two decades after vandals reportedly stripped the facility of vital equipment, including cables, frequency drives, contactors, motors and other critical electronic components.
The company announced the development in a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, describing the successful exercise carried out on Tuesday as a major milestone in the long-awaited revival of the iconic brand.
According to the company, biscuits rolled off the rehabilitated production line for the first time in 17 years, marking a symbolic but significant step towards restoring Okin Biscuits to the Nigerian market.
However, the management clarified that the exercise was strictly a technical trial run and not yet a full product test, stressing that work was still ongoing to restore the familiar taste, quality and standards that once made Okin a household name among Nigerian consumers.
The statement read in part, “For the first time in 17 years, biscuits rolled off one of our rehabilitated production lines at the factory in Offa. We had to rebuild the line after having all cables, frequency drives, contactors, motors and other electronic components stolen.
“This was a technical trial run, not a product trial. At this stage, we were not concerned about colour, appearance or achieving the final Okin recipe. The objective was simple: Can we bring this line, silent for 17 years, back to life? And we did.”
The successful trial represents more than just the movement of machinery or the production of the first set of biscuits. It signals the rebirth of a factory that had been silent for nearly two decades and the possible return of a brand that once commanded a strong presence in Nigeria’s confectionery market.
In another major boost to the revival project, the company announced that the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company connected the factory to a 33KVA Band A electricity grid on the same day.
The development is expected to provide a more reliable power supply for the rehabilitation and eventual full-scale operation of the production facility, which had suffered years of inactivity.
Despite the breakthrough, Okin Biscuits acknowledged that the journey back to the shelves is far from over. The company said extensive testing, calibration and further rehabilitation work must still be completed before Nigerians can once again enjoy the finished product.
“There is still work ahead. More testing. More calibration. More rehabilitation. And, of course, getting that familiar Okin taste and quality exactly right before the biscuits return to the market,” the statement added.
The company’s message, however, leaves little doubt that the revival process is gathering momentum.
For many Nigerians who grew up with the Okin brand, the development could bring a wave of nostalgia, while for the company, it represents a hard-fought return from years of silence, vandalism and industrial setbacks.
With one production line now back to life and electricity restored to support the revival effort, the countdown may have begun for the full return of Okin Biscuits to stores and homes across Nigeria.