Sugar Council Seeks to Save $1bn By Ending Importation

James Emejo in Abuja

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, yesterday said the council seeks to eliminate sugar importation and save the country about $1 billion through the implementation of the Nigerian Sugar Masterplan (NSMP).

He said the measure will help reduce current pressure on the country’s foreign reserves as well as strengthen the Naira.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, who assumed office in October, Bakrin said the council had been able to onboard two new sugar investors who control about 20,000 hectares of land under his leadership.

He also said the council had redesigned the Backward Integration Performance Incentive Framework to ensure proper alignment between the objectives of the NSMP and the activities of the operators.

He said, “So, if you are doing well, you get rewarded, and if you don’t do well, it would show in the kinds of incentives you get.

“You know that’s one of the major problems in Nigeria-if you don’t have proper incentive alignment, people will do whatever they want.”

He also disclosed that the council has commenced the full revitalisation of the Nigerian Sugar Institute in Ilorin, Kwara State to achieve the production of two million seedlings which will supply to the operators to help them fast-track the development of sugar estates.

He added that the council has also mapped out plans to train about 1,500 sugar operators over time.

Among other things, the NSDC boss said it is ramping up phase 2 of NSMP Strategy, adding that it would be unveiled next month to give proper backing to its activities.

According to him, the revamped framework will help to deal with the current complexities and realities of the industry.

He said the council remained committed under his watch to uphold the four pillars of the NSMP especially to promote backward integration to ensure the development of sugar production in the country; provide fiscal incentives including zero tariffs on equipment and spares as well as assistance to investors in the provision of feasibility studies.

Jhe said on assumption of office in October, “I built on the work and achievements of my predecessor who has already worked extremely hard to get things to where they are today.

“So, working with the leadership team, we sort of articulated what needs to happen going forward to deliver on the mandate of this organisation and contribute our quota to national development.

“The critical thing for us is to accelerate the attainment of the goals of the NSMP through strategic interventions. And we recognise three objectives: One is to increase the output of sugar locally to match domestic demand; to become a globally competitive player. We also want to become a globally competitive producer of sugar as a country and make imports a lot less attractive.

“And the third is to maximize the output of sugar because this sector also produces ethanol and power and animal feeds. We are seeking to maximize the industry’s output, and increase the amount of land available for the programme.”

He said the council was also looking at how to drive higher yields and attract investors to the sector.