As part of efforts to realise the objectives of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has announced plans to supervise the construction of four viable sugar projects on parcels of land provided by the governments of Kogi and Adamawa States.
The projects which will be built by the private sector, will be situated in three villages in Adamawa and one in Kogi.
Speaking while receiving the reports of the pre-feasibility studies conducted on the lands, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Dr Abdulatif Busari, said according to the report submitted by the different consultancy firms contracted for the job, Dangerri (11,047 ha) in Kogi state has been “technically certified as suitable and available for the establishment of sugar project.”
Other villages, he announced as suitable for the projects, include Gayuk (7,500 ha), Mayo Inne (18000 ha) and Shelleng (7,409 ha), all in Adamawa State.
Busari recalled that when the implementation of the sugar master plan commenced in January 2013, the council approached some state governments for land allocation for critical projects to be sited.
While expressing optimism that other states government would also make parcels of land in their respective states available in the future, Busari thanked the Adamawa and Kogi State governments for their gesture.
He also thanked the consultants for a job well done.
Continuing, Busari said: “I am pleased to inform you that the council has already initiated a follow up action to facilitate the offer of these lands to identified sugar sector investors. In these regard, the state governments have been approached to grant provisional Right of Ownership (R-o-O) to the investors.
“It is expected that the companies will immediately submit to Council, project implementation plan that would assist the Council in monitoring progress and within one year of the receipt of the R-o-O titles, the companies would begin physical development of the sites. “
Responding, the cross section of consultants commended the management of the Council for its drive towards the effective implementation of the sugar master plan and the opportunity given to them to participate in the processes leading to the realisation of master plan.
The high point of the occasion was the official presentation of the reports to the NSDC boss by the representatives of the consulting firms and the presentation of certificate of completion by the council to the firms.
