The Federal Government has launched a 73 million dollar intervention fund for irrigation, to boost the Sugar backward integration programme and also signed an agreement between with the operators of the Sugar backward integration programme.
Minister of Industry, trade and Investment Niyi Adebayo, while speaking at the event held at the Presidential Villa, said he represented the President Muhammadu Buhari at the formal commissioning of the Presidential project on irrigation infrastructure.
He also explained that the aim is to support the development of irrigation infrastructure on 10,000 hectares of sugar plantations located in six sites in Numan in Adamawa State; Sumti in Niger State; Lafiagi and Bacita in Kwara as well as Toto and Tunga, both in Nasarawa state.
Also speaking, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state expressed delight that the country was now moving in the right direction towards actualising her dream of becoming self-sufficient in sugar production. He also noted that sugar had a value chain that can yield more for the country, thus boosting the Nigerian economy.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, NSDC Zacch Adedeji said the intervention was part of government’s determination to provide an enabling environment for private investments to thrive and flourish in the country.
