
Mr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has said that the nation’s sugar sector is filled with prospects for more Nigerians.
Adedeji who stated this while on a familiarisation visit to sugar refineries in Lagos state, noted that the sugar sector as currently structured has what it takes to provide direct and indirect jobs for millions of Nigerians both as skilled and unskilled workers.
He said: “The sugar sector is a goldmine that holds numerous potentials and opportunities for Nigeria and Nigerians.It is a sector that has provided direct and indirect jobs for thousands of our citizens across disciplines and professions.
“We are all concerned about the need to provide job opportunities for our people, especially our youths. Unemployment is a major contributor to the various social crises facing us today as a country. This is why the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is committed to revamping the sugar industry to enable it absorb our citizens and contribute meaningful to the economy and the country in general”.
Adedeji, who assured investors in the sector of government’s support, also charged them to redouble their efforts especially as it relates to the wholesome implementation of the backward integration programme for the sugar industry which is crucial to Nigeria’s quest to attain self-sufficiency in sugar production.
“The Federal Government is serious and determined to realise its objectives as far as the sugar sector is concerned. We hope to be the largest exporter of sugar in Africa in the nearest future. To achieve this lofty goal, we must all roll up our sleeves and accord priority to our backward integration programme which is the bedrock of our mission as an agency of government”.
He said, “Only recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria said it would soon begin to restrict access to foreign exchange to producers of some commodities in the country, including sugar.
“This is clearly an indication that government cannot continue to expend its scarce forex on things that we have all it takes to produce locally. Let’s take this as a challenge and work towards ensuring that the BIP policy succeeds for the benefit of dear country”.
“It bears restating that we must be ready to take actions that will make Nigeria a net exporter of sugar, thereby saving scarce forex for other purposes.