Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Zacch Adedeji, has said 2023 will be mainly data-driven in pursuit of Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in sugar production.
A statement by the council’s head of public affairs unit, Abdullahi Yunusa, on Wednesday, in Ilorin, Kwara State added that the executive secretary disclosed this at the official takeoff of the Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI) to mark the end of the implementation of the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) Phase I and the commencement of Phase II.
The Nigeria Sugar Institute was primarily established to conduct research, develop modules for training professionals in the sector as well as serve as the main training hub for stakeholders in the sugar sub-sector of the economy.
“Without mincing words, research, data and technology are critical ingredients required to build a sugar sector that would place Nigeria among the comity of leading sugar producers within the continent.
“It was in the realization of this irrefutable fact that the council thought it wise to commit both human and material resources which gave birth to this institute. I salute the foresight and vision of my predecessors who began the entire process in the first place,” the NSDC boss said.
He added that the NSDC under his watch was “committed to putting in place programmes, policies and innovations that would accelerate Nigeria’s drive to attain self-sufficiency in sugar production through faithful implementation of the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan (NSMP).”
“It will be recalled that the Federal Government in 2012 approved a 10-year master plan for the sugar sector known as the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan.
“The plan is anchored on four major objectives which are: for Nigeria to attain self-sufficiency in local sugar production, stem the rising tide of sugar importation, create job opportunities through the setting up of sugar estates and refineries as well as to generate electricity and production of ethanol for industrial purposes.
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“The sector has recorded tremendous achievements during the last 10 years of implementing the sugar roadmap. Nigeria has been able to reach and surpass its local raw sugar refining capacity, the commissioning of a multi-billion dollar sugar factory and estate in 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari in Sunti, Niger state, creation of over one million direct and indirect jobs, the takeoff of moribund Nigeria’s foremost sugar company Bacita, Kwara State, and several other landmark feats recorded in the last 10 years in the sugar sector.
“It is a known fact that the nation’s sugar sector has witnessed some significant reforms in the last 10 years. The sector is now well regulated, roles of stakeholders are clearly defined, formulation of enabling laws and policies to aid growth and heavy reliance on modern technology to drive the process.
“Like I earlier stated, research, data and technology are very useful to us as an agency of government. Going forward, all our activities will be solely driven by research, data, innovation and modern technology,” he added.
“We are more determined in our resolve to ensure that the nation’s sugar sector serves the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians through increased revenue and job creation for our youths.
“I wish to at this point call on all our partners to redouble their efforts, especially as it relates to the adoption of modern technology and use of data to drive their activities.
“Our mission is to ensure that the huge successes recorded in the area of sugar refining are replicated in the agricultural aspect of the NSMP. So, our focus will be on how to grow healthy and disease-free sugarcane across various sugar estates for crushing and processing.
“Sugarcane is, without doubt, the major ingredient required to produce sugar, hence our resolve to encourage its cultivation. So, this is a clarion call on all operators implementing the BIP component of the NSMP to work hard as we shall no longer entertain excuses or avoidable delays in the takeoff of sugar estates across the country.
“The next 10 years are very important to us as a sector. We shall not hesitate to sanction anyone found wilfully distorting the sugar master plan.
“Also, this institute provides direct jobs for over 100 Nigerians and indirect jobs to members of the community hosting it. I wish to also stress that the citing of this institute has brought development and turned around the economic fortunes of members of the host community,” Adedeji stated.
