PMBs Administration Will Reverse Nigerias Import DependenceMinister

Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar assured that Nigeria has all it take to not only attain self sufficiency in food production but also export same as well.The minister who decried that over dependence on imported consumables was not healthy for the country, stressed however that, President Muhammadu Buharis administration is working tirelessly towards reversing the trend.Speaking in Sokoto during the Northern Region Sugar Sensitization workshop, Abubakar said with PMBs intention remained to enable Nigeria locally produce those commodities that are needed in the country in sufficient quantity hence Nigeria is blessed with both human resources and vast arable land to feed her citizenry.While noting that, workshops aimed at creating awareness on certain agricultural crops that Nigeria have comparative advantage would help in encouraging farmers to beam searchlights towards that direction, the Minister added that such workshops also have ten potentials of attracting investors, which will in-turn create employment for our youths.The minister added that diversifying the nations source of income to both agriculture and industrial would no doubt broaden the revenue generation base of NigeriaEarlier, acting Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Mr Samuel Ali Kwabe lamented that Nigeria spend between 500 to 600 million dollar annually on sugar importation.Samuel, who divulged that, Nigeria now have a 10 year master plan for sugar, appealed to state governments to help release land to investor seeking to establish sugar plants in their states.Spending between 500 to 600m USD onky on importation of sugar into a country that is largely endowed with abundant land, water and human resources as well as comparative and competitive advantages to produce the commodity in large quantities not only to satisfy her requirement but also export to earn foreign exchange, such importation trend is unacceptable,Explaining the Sugar Master Plan, Mr Samuel said, the 10-Year Master Plan would help Nigeria produce 1.7 million metric tonnes of sugar, 161.2 million liters of ethanol, generate 411 megawatts of electricity and create about 117,000 jobs.While noting that there is ready made market for Nigerian sugarcane farmers, Samuel said local sugar factories had been mandated to source 40 percent of their raw materials locally.On his part, the chairman, House Committee on Industry, Alhaji Hussaini Morikiassured that Nigerian National Assembly was ready to not only consistently reveiew existing laws but also step up effective oversight to help the agency in achieving aims of the 10 year Sugar Master Plan.
Click here to read full news..