FG targets job drive as sugar makers continue exploits
Federal Government of Nigeria is projecting that the sugar industry will create up to 1 million jobs in a few years. This follows from the $3 billion investment going on across seven states in more than 15 sites in the country.
“Over the next few years, the projects will make Nigeria self-sufficient in sugar production, and will lead to employment of over a million Nigerians, directly and indirectly,’’ said President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the 42nd annual general meeting (AGM) of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), held last Thursday in Lagos.
The job drive has been made possible by the Sugar Master Plan (SMP), which is an offshoot of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), he said.
Dangote Sugar, for instance, is investing $2 billion in sugarcane plantations and factories in six Northern states. In an interview with Real Sector Watch recently, Graham Clark, CEO, Dangote Sugar Refinery, said the firm had engaged a number of local farmers, provided technical assistance them, while providing ready markets for their products.
Flour Mills of Nigeria has also invested hugely in commercial sugar refining on its 750,000 metric tons capacity plant. Through its division called Golden Sugar Company, the conglomerate has been expanding operations in the production of the Golden Penny Sugar.
Honey Gold Group is putting together $300 million on two sites in Adamawa State, with the target of producing 200,000MT of sugar annually.
Similarly, Crystal Sugar Mills is investing $30 million in Hadejia, Jigawa State, with a view to expanding its operations to produce 60,000MT of sugar per annum from its acquired 1,500 TCD sugar plant.
Again, Confluence Sugar Company has concluded arrangements to pump $240 million in Kogi State to produce 200,000MT of sugar per annum on 37,000ha of land at Ibaji, according to Latif Busari, executive secretary, NSDC, in a recent statement.
Unikem Industries is investing in a newly acquired plant in Dangerri, Kogi State, to produce 80,000MT of sugar. Bua Sugar is expanding, having recently acquired Lafiagi Sugar Plant in Kwara State. Its plant has an installed capacity of 2,000MT of sugar a day, while much of its technology has Brazil origin.