Federal Government is set to partner with industry stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the National Sugar Masterplan, with the aim of positioning Nigeria among key global sugar exporters and boosting economic growth.
The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. John Owan Eno, made this known during a public hearing on a bill to amend the National Sugar Development Council Act, held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Dr. Owan highlighted the significant role of the sugar industry in actualizing President Bola Tinubu’s $1 trillion economy vision.
According to him, the proposed amendment will strengthen the legal framework, correct previous lapses, and promote real import substitution and sustainable local production capacity.
He noted that while the sugar industry has benefited from over $2 billion incentives under the first and second phases of the Masterplan, its contribution to the economy remains underwhelming with just $30 billion.
In his presentation, Executive Secretary National Sugar Development Council NSDC, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, said part of the transformative goals of the Sugar Masterplan was the creation of 100,000 high-quality jobs, development of rural infrastructure, and savings of over $1 billion in foreign exchange annually.
Mr Kamar Bakrin, who raised concerns over the recent directive mandating that 50% of the sugar levy be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), warned that such decision could undermine the sector’s transformation goals.
“The sugar levy was specifically introduced to fund the development of the sector, unlike import duties. Redirecting those funds could derail the country’s industrial ambitions,” he warned, adding that the NSDC has established a technical committee to thoroughly review the proposed amendments and provide feedback”
In a message the Director General of NFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, expressed the agency’s resolve to support the bill as it will enhance the Council’s regulatory capacity however, cautioned that some provisions have overlaped the NAFDAC’s core regulatory functions as outlined in Section 5 of its Act.
The NAFDAC Boss emphasized that his agency remains the regulatory authority for all food imports, including sugar, to ensure consumer safety and quality standards, urging the National Assembly to clearly delineate the roles of National Sugar Development Council NSDC to avoid conflict and duplication of powers.
Also speaking, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Kingsly Egwuh, reiterated the agency’s support for an efforts to enhance transparency and efficiency in the sugar industry asuring that the Nigeria Customs Service’s will sustain its tempo in revenue collection as contained under Nigeria’s fiscal laws.
Earlier, the Chairman House Committee on trade and investment Mr Enitan Dolapo Badru, said the hearing was part of efforts to develop inclusive legislation that will strengthen the NSDC’s capacity to drive the National Sugar Masterplan.
The committee Chairman who appealed to all stakeholders to contribute constructively maintained that the main goal of the hearing is to build a sustainable and competitive sugar industry that creates jobs, improves livelihoods, and contributes significantly to national development.
COV : TSIBIRI.
