Federal Government has reassured that Nigeria will attain sufficiency in the production and export of sugar and its by-products by 2023.
The Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, Mr. Zacch Adedeji made this known at the 2022 edition of the Council’s annual meeting with the Commerce and Industry Correspondent Association of Nigeria, CICAN in Abuja on Wednesday.
Mr. Adedeji said policies that would encourage more investments have been put in place to ensure that raw materials and other equipment needed were made available locally for massive production to boost the nation’s revenue.
He said the country was targeting to have at least 20 sugar-producing companies by 2033 in its next action plan.
The Executive Secretary further stressed that the second phase of the National Sugar Master plan recently approved by the Federal Executive Council would go a long way in realizing the country’s sugar sufficiency before 2033.
According to him, the council will utilize available resources to cultivate arable land to be used for farming sugar cane as the current raw materials are not sufficient thereby forcing producers to import more.
Mr. Adedeji pledged the government’s readiness to restore the lost glory in the sector as well as ensure that companies were up to their corporate social responsibilities to the host communities.
Earlier, the CICAN Chairman, Ifeanyi Onuba advised the council to put appropriate measures in place to help boost the production of sugar.
RN
