FG approves phase II of national sugar master plan

The federal government has approved phase II of its 10-year National Sugar Master plan aimed at saving $350m annually as well as creating an extra 10,000 new jobs. This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Zacch Adedeji, while inspecting field and factory facilities at the Dangote Sugar Refinery, […]

The federal government has approved phase II of its 10-year National Sugar Master plan aimed at saving $350m annually as well as creating an extra 10,000 new jobs.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Zacch Adedeji, while inspecting field and factory facilities at the Dangote Sugar Refinery, Numan in Adamawa State.

The master plan is designed for Nigeria to raise local production for sugar self-sufficiency, stem the tide of unbridled importation, create job opportunities and contribute to the ethanol and generation of electricity.

He further stated that the government was targeting to save $65.8m on ethanol import and generate 400 megawatts of electricity.

He, therefore, called on the Sugar Backward Integration Programme operators to double up in their operations and enjoined both local and international investors to key into the sector.

He said the 10-year plan has several policy measures or fiscal incentives that would stimulate demand and attract the private-sector investment sub-sector. Part of the benefits of the master plan is the local production of sugar.

He expressed satisfaction with the ongoing expansion of the factory in Numan from 3500TCD to 6000TCD which is expandable to 9,800TCD.

The executive secretary emphasised that effective from January 1, 2023, which marks the commitment of phase II of the implementation of the master plan, the council will put in additional, robust monitoring and evaluation of the activities in the sector with the inter-ministerial ministerial committee named “Sugar Road Map Implementation Committee”.