By Daniels Nwokike
In pursuit of the nation’s drive towards attaining self-sufficiency in sugar production, Dangote conglomerate have declared that the group is concluding plans with the Niger State Government to establish a $450 million Sugar refinery plant in the State.
Announcing this in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary of Niger State, Jibrin Ndace, the Managing Director of Dangote Sugar Refinery Company, Engr. Abdullahi Sule led a team of experts from Dangote group to Minna to brief Governor Abubakar Sani Bello on the progress made so far on the proposed Sugar and Rice schemes to be sited in the state by the group.
Sule disclosed that the sites for both the Sugar cane plantation and the refinery have been identified while the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Niger State government, the community hosting the schemes and the group is being perfected.
According to him, “The group will be investing 450 million US Dollars on Sugar alone and this is explicitly stated in the MOU. We have equally had the survey of the site, soil test of the site and have done the demarcation of the land to enable us plant different crops”.
On the proposal for rice production, Sule said work is in progress, adding that the group is prepared for the scheme as soon as due diligence and necessary formalities are completed.
In his response, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello directed the Ministries of Agriculture, Lands and Justice to perfect the smooth take-off of the Sugar refinery project without any further delay.
It is believed that the establishment of the Sugar refinery in Niger state will create job opportunities for youths in the state as well as other Nigerian youths.
