FG to consolidate backward integration policy for sugar production

The Federal Government has expressed its determination to increase investment in sugar development in the country, in a bid to guarantee self-sufficiency, create jobs and improve the wealth of the people.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, gave this indication in Abuja, at the mid-term review meeting of the Nigeria sugar master plan.

The minister said the backward integration policy of the federal government which began four years ago need to be consolidated in order to achieve the desired results.

He said unlike the cement policy, the sugar sector is faced with more harrowing challenges but that the government is not ready to stage a back out adding that the next five years will see to a total turn around in the sector.

Enelamah charged stakeholders in the sector to come up with workable and sustainable solutions to the sector’s challenges.

His words, ‘Sugar has been challenging and we must overcome those challenges. This is part of the reasons why the acting President inaugurated the industrial council that would bring together leaders and players in both private and public sectors in order to boost industrialisation. We are resolute to partner with private sector to address these challenges. We are not only interested in discussing solutions but we are bent on implementation.

He said the desire of the government to industrialise Nigeria has not diminished despite the fact that the ambition is very capital intensive.

He said the only way to go is public/private partnership adding that the government will provide the enabling environment for stakeholders to operate.

The Executive secretary of the sugar council Dr. Abdullatif Busari highlighted the pains and gains of the sugar master plan policy since its take off as well as insight into the preferred destination of the plan.

Busari said it is expected that Nigeria will attain a zero percent importation of sugar by the time the policy reached its maturity of ten years, adding that Nigeria will be able to attain a 70 percent self sufficiency and even export to other African nations.

It will be recalled that the federal executive council (FEC) at its meeting of Industrialise Nigeria has not diminished despite the fact that the ambition is very capital intensive.

He said the only way to go is public/private partnership adding that the government will provide the enabling environment for stakeholders to operate.