Nigeria : We’re removing obstacles to sugar production -NSDC
Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Kamar Bakrin, reported progress in addressing challenges hampering local sugar production. At a tripartite meeting in Abuja, he highlighted intensified performance monitoring of Backward Integration Programme (BIP) operators. Key obstacles identified include free trade zone loopholes, port delays, sugar smuggling, and host community resistance. Legislative amendments are underway to resolve these issues.
Executive Secretary/CEO, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Kamar Bakrin, has updated critical stakeholders on the progress made by the council in addressing impediments to improved local sugar production in the country.
Speaking at a tripartite meeting of the agency, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and investment and the major BIP operators, in Abuja, the NSDC boss said the Council has elevated performance monitoring and oversight of the Backward Integration Programme (BIP) operators beyond what the Sugar Industry Monitoring Group (SIMOG) used to do.
According to him, NSDC under his watch has emphasised robust, one-on-one, physical and virtual engagement with the operators, giving them targets and following up on deliverables.
On the feedback he has obtained from the operators, the Executive Secretary told the gathering, chaired by the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, that:
“The operators have complained about the existing loopholes in the free trade zone regime, which they believe certain participants in the NSMP have exploited. They also cited delays in the clearing of equipment at the ports, smuggling of sugar into the country, host community resistance to the expansion of their BIP programmes as the primary causes of the delays in their BIP execution.”
Bakrin continued: “The loopholes in the FTZ regime are being addressed by the ongoing amendment of the NSDC Act by the National Assembly
“The amendment process which has involved engagements with the relevant National Assembly Committee, and key stakeholders among other objectives, address the concern of the BIP operators and also make the industry more attractive to other investors.”
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Source : Daily Trust
