Sugar plays a critical role in rural development, job creation – Trade Minister Eno

By Christiana Ekpa

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. John Owan Eno, on Thursday emphasized sugar’s potential in achieving President Bola Tinubu’s $1 trillion economy vision.

This was just as Key stakeholders in Nigeria’s sugar industry reaffirmed their commitment to the successful implementation of the National Sugar Master plan (NSMP), which aims to transform Nigeria into a net exporter of sugar and related products, while contributing meaningfully to national economic growth.

The Minister alone other Stakeholders—including the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), BUA Group, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, and Abuja-based consulting firm NINA-JOJER— these know at a one-day public hearing on a bill to amend the National Sugar Development Council Act, held on Thursday at the National Assembly.

The proposed legislation is titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Sugar Development Council Act, CAP N78 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2024, to Provide for the Functions and Powers of the Council, and the Payment of All Monies Received by the Council into the Federation Account in Accordance with Section 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and for Related Matters” (HB.2022 and HB.2030).

According to the Minister,  Sugar plays a critical role in rural development, job creation, and national value generation. The NSMP is a vital component of our industrialization drive. However, its success depends on the collective attitude and accountability of both public and private sector actors,” he said.

The Minister noted that while the sugar industry has benefited from over $2 billion in incentives under the first and second phases of the Master Plan, its contribution to the economy remains underwhelming—estimated at just $30 billion.

“This amendment is intended to strengthen the law, correct past lapses, and ensure we achieve real import substitution and sustainable local capacity,” he concluded.

In his presentation, the Executive Secretary of the NSDC, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, emphasized the transformative goals of the Sugar Masterplan—chief among them the creation of 100,000 high-quality jobs, development of rural infrastructure, and savings of over $1 billion in foreign exchange annually.

“To realize this vision, we require $4.5 billion in investments, which the Council is actively working to attract. Investor confidence is critical, and that confidence hinges on transparent, rule-based policies,” he said.

Bakrin raised concerns over the recent directive mandating that 50% of the sugar levy be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), warning that such measures could undermine the sector’s transformation goals.

“The sugar levy was specifically introduced to fund the development of the sector, unlike import duties. Redirecting those funds could derail the country’s industrial ambitions,” he warned, adding that the NSDC has established a technical committee to thoroughly review the proposed amendments and provide feedback.

Representing the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Mrs Iba Edward expressed the agency’s support for the bill’s intent to enhance the Council’s regulatory capacity. However, he cautioned that some of the proposed provisions overlap with NAFDAC’s core regulatory functions as outlined in Section 5 of the NAFDAC Act.

“We urge the National Assembly to clearly delineate the roles of NSDC to avoid conflict and duplication. NAFDAC remains the regulatory authority for all food imports, including sugar, to ensure consumer safety and quality standards,” he said.