The National Sugar Development Council NSDC says Nigeria’s target to attain self sufficiency in sugar production will be achieved in the shortest time.
The Executive Secretary of the Council, Zacch Adedeji who made this known at a briefing in Abuja said this will stem the rising tide of sugar importation.
Adedeji said a total of four companies have signed into the Backward Integration Programme (BIP) of the National Sugar master plan (NSMP), adding that Oyo and Nasarawa states will soon sign memorandum of understanding with the council as the necessary guidelines have been concluded .
He stated that the new investors will focus on the field and agricultural aspect of the Nigeria Sugar Master plan, which is the main target of the policy.
He assured that Nigeria’s annual sugar consumption of 1.7 million metric tones will be achieved after 10 years as captured on the master plan.
Adedeji however called on the operators to buckle up as the old order of allocating raw sugar quota based on size of the refinery has changed based on the approved NSMP Phase 2.
