The Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo has met with major sugar operators under implementing the Backward Integration Programme component of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan to look at issues affecting their operations and seek for better ways of addressing them.
The meeting which according to the Hon. Minister was convened to “hear directly from sugar operators on the modalities they have fashioned out to meet their respective BIP targets”, was attended by the Executive of the National Sugar Development Council, Dr. Latif D. Busari, Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chariman, BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu and Chairman, Flour Mills Nigeria Limited, Mr. John Coumantaros. Others were FMITI officials, NSDC Directors as well as top management staff of the three sugar operators.
While addressing the gathering, the Minister said the sugar sector “occupies a serious place in the programmes and activities of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari”, adding that the Ministry has the “blessing and approval of Mr. President to vigorously pursue Nigeria’s drive to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production”.
He charged the operators to see themselves as key players whose inputs are invaluable in the actualization of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan, noted that government was open to innovative suggestions on ways to achieve, quicker, faster and smarter results in the sector.
“Government cannot achieve its goals in the sugar sub-sector without the inputs and participation of private sector players. Ours is simply to provide the enabling environment to do your job. The day to day execution of the plans mapped out for the sector rests squarely on the private sector. We are more than ready to ensure that things work in the sector. So, this meeting isn’t about who is wrong or right all the while, but how to collectively move the sector forward”.
In his remarks, Executive Secretary, NSDC, Dr. Latif D. Busari reiterated government’s determination to ensure that the sector works for the good of all, noting that the sugar industry is undergoing serious reforms that would begin to yield results for all stakeholders.
“The sugar industry is a unique industry that requires patience, commitment and huge funding for it to survive. It takes an insider who understands how the sector works to appreciate the work and efforts that have so far gone since we began the implementation of NSMP a little over six years ago. The challenges are quite enormous, but not insurmountable”.
In his submission, President, Dangote Group, operator of the Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR), Alhaji Aliko Dangote canvassed for the review of existing performance framework as captured in the NSMP, which according to him would clearly spellout Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for operators.