‘FG’s Sugar Policy Yielding Results’

The Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Zacch Adedeji has stated that available records show that Nigeria is recording steady and appreciable progress in the implementation of its policy roadmap for the sugar sector as captured in the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), a 10-year blueprint designed to revitalize the sector and make Nigeria a net exporter of the commodity.

In a press statement signed by the Director, Executive Secretary’s Office, Ahmed Waziri, Mr. Adedeji restated government’s readiness to build a globally competitive sugar industry that would boost local economy, provide jobs for Nigeria’s teeming youth population and position Nigeria as a net exporter of the commodity.
According to Adedeji, seven years into the policy and three more years to go, the sector has attracted over N250 billion worth of investments through its Backward Integration Programme, even as more investors have expressed their willingness to commit their resources to the sector.

He said, “Only recently a new investor, KIA Group Africa completed the process of acquiring the defunct Nigeria Sugar Company (NISUCO) in Bacita, Kwara state and has since commenced work. The KIA Group now joins existing industry players like the Dangote Group, BUA Group and the Flour Mills to drive the BIP component of the NSMP.”
He said, the new owner has set its eyes on producing at least 300,000 metric tonnes of sugarcane, refining an estimated 204,000 metric tonnes of the sweet commodity, and generating N46 billion revenue by 2027.

He added that a workforce of about 20,000 employees would be engaged to drive the company towards optimum production and ensure economic growth of the country.

“Also, another major player in the industry, Flour Mills Limited recently signed a multi-millionaire agreement with the Nasarawa state government to build a factory in Toto LGA of the state. The new project is in addition to the company’s N50 billion Golden Sugar estate in Sunti Niger state, which was commissioned in 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Adedeji said the Council it is wisdom recently convened a roundtable meeting comprising of critical stakeholders to deliberate and share perspectives on challenges associated with the importation of equipment and machineries by some operators.