Federal Government Urges Dangote to Meet 600,000 Metric Ton Sugar Output Goal by 2030

Spearheaded by Senator John Owan Enoh, the Minister of State for Industry, a call to action has been made to the Dangote Group of Companies, urging them to bolster the annual production capacity of their subsidiary, Dangote Sugar Refinery, to 600,000 metric tonnes by 2030.

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This directive was issued during the Minister's visit to the Dangote Sugar Refinery Complex in Numan, Adamawa state, where he was accompanied by Mr. Kamar Bakrin, the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council.

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The visit was part of a broader strategic inspection of sugar projects nationwide, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's directive to accelerate Nigeria's path to self-sufficiency in sugar production.

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Senator Enoh highlighted the significant disparity between the country's current local sugar production and its annual consumption of 1.8 million metric tonnes, emphasizing the need for Dangote Sugar Refinery to contribute substantially to bridging this gap.

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The Minister stressed that as a leading player in the sector, Dangote Sugar Refinery must produce at least 600,000 metric tonnes by 2030 and sustain this level of production thereafter.

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He noted that the circumstances of the sugar sector are closely tied to the actions of Dangote Sugar Refinery, given its prominent position as one of the three major operators in the industry.

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Senator Enoh expressed his appreciation for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by Mr. Kamar Bakrin, acknowledging the importance of cooperation from all stakeholders in achieving the objectives of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan.

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The Minister referenced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's frequent discussions on the sugar industry in Federal Executive Council meetings, underscoring the importance of meeting the 600,000 metric tonnes target by 2030.

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Senator Enoh commended the National Sugar Development Council for its efforts in motivating and monitoring operators, while also acknowledging the tangible commitment of Dangote Sugar Refinery to the Backward Integration Programme, as evident in its infrastructure and investment.

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The Minister praised the Dangote Sugar Refinery team for its commitment to improving performance and assured them of the federal government's willingness to collaborate in overcoming obstacles to increased local sugar production.

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Senator Enoh concluded his visit by encouraging Dangote Sugar Refinery to scale up production, emphasizing the government's seriousness about achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production.

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Mr. Olakunle Alake, the Vice President of the Dangote Group, responded by assuring the Minister of the company's renewed commitment to investing more resources and scaling up production capacity to meet the 600,000 metric tonnes target by 2030.