Federal Government says it hopes to achieve sufficiency in sugar production within a decade from now.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo revealed this in Abuja at the weekly ministerial briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team.
He said currently, the nation produces just five percent of its sugar needs but the government is making frantic efforts to become self-sufficient in making the product available to Nigerians.
Furthermore, the Minister revealed that it has so far generated 15, 000 jobs through its National Sugar Master Plan programme, adding that although returns on investment in sugar production are slow, government is focused on investing in the sector.
Responding to questions on how the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis would affect Nigeria’s economy, the Minister said his ministry is carefully studying the situation in order to advise the government on what to do.
Adebayo, who also spoke on ports decongestion in Nigeria, noted that new ports will soon come on board, in order to ease the pressure on Apapa and Tincan ports.
BELLO WAKILI
