NSDC says FG’s policy on sugar yielding results

The Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Zach Adedeji, has said 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).

He stated, yesterday, that the 10-year blueprint to revitalise the sector was making Nigeria a net exporter of the commodity.

Adedeji said: “For the records, the NSMP is a 10-year ambitious and well-thought-out policy framework for the sector, which seeks to bring about a complete overhaul to enable Nigeria become self-sufficient in sugar production, create direct and indirect jobs, generate electricity, become a notable global sugar producer as well as produce ethanol for industrial use.” 

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had at its 37th meeting on September 19, 2012, approved the NSMP for implementation and adoption as a government roadmap for the development of the sugar sub-sector. Actual implementation began in 2013.

“Seven years into the policy and three more years to go, the sector has attracted over N250 billion worth of investment through its Backward Integration Programme, even as more investors have expressed their willingness to commit their resources to the sector,” he said.
 
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 joins existing industry players like Dangote, BUA and Flour Mills to drive the BIP component of the NSMP.

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