The Federal Government yesterday lauded Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), saying that it was impressed with the company’s massive investment in the sugar sub-sector in line with the country’s backward integration policy. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, who was on a working tour of Dangote’s expansive Savannah Sugar Company (SSCL) Limited in Numan, Adamawa State and Tunga sugar project site in Nasarawa State, described the projects as ‘huge, impressive and amazing.’
Speaking about the sugar plantation in Nasarawa, the minister said: “It’s an impressive sight. It’s amazing that such a project exists in this place.” He added; “What we’ve seen so far from all the plantations we’ve been to are very impressive. We are impressed with the level of work they are doing.”
In the same vein, commenting on Dangote’s Savannah Sugar Company, he said: “The sugar production undertaken here is a huge one,” adding that it gave him much hope that as a country, Nigeria had moved far towards producing all its sugar needs. The minister, who was on a working tour of the Sugar Backward Integration Projects in the country, also visited other companies.
He said: “All the three manufacturers are doing a very great job. We intend to sit down with them and discuss further and see how we can encourage them to do more.” Speaking, President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, gave assurance of meeting Nigeria’s demand for sugar in no distant future.
Both men, accompanied by top executives of Dangote Group and top government functionaries went round the factories and Dangote’s sugar plantations in Savannah, Adamawa State and Tunga, Nasarawa State respectively. Speaking at a recent event, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi A. Sule, said Dangote Sugar Refinery in Tunga was also going to generate about 90 megawatts of power annually when completed.
