In line with its drive to grow the nation’s sugar sector and make Nigeria a leading sugar producing nation in Africa, the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), recently held a one-day sensitization forum for critical stakeholders within the sector where issues bordering on the implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan were discussed.
The forum which was held on Thursday, 26th April, 2018 in Dutse, Jigawa state, had “Revising the NSMP Implementation Modalities for the Achievement of National Self-Sufficiency in Sugar” as its major theme.
In his speech at the event, the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Dr. Latif Busari, said a lot has been achieved since the Council began the implementation of the NSMP in 2013.
He added that, the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) which is a policy road map for sugar production was implemented in 2013 with the objective to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production, save forex on the importation of sugar and ethanol and establishment of 28 factories of varying capacities across the country among others.
The NSDC boss also highlighted that difficulties in land acquisition by sugar industries as a result of hostilities by host communities and flooding of sugar estates owing to release of water from Kainji and Jebba dams are some major problems plaguing the sector.
In his address, the Chairman of the event and President, Jigawa State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Shehu Sanusi (Ciroman Dutse), said the workshop is a deliberate attempt by the NSDC to open up the nation’s sugar industry for increased investments.
He identified agriculture as the solution to the nation’s rising unemployment challenge and called on state governments to accord the sector the attention it deserves.
Participants at the event noted that there are major challenges on the path of sustainable development and growth of local investment in Sugar Sector of the Nigerian economy. They noted that for a meaningful growth and development to take place in the sector, infrastructure challenges relating to good access road to the sugar project sites, availability of water, easy acquisition of land, etc. should be addressed.
