The Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, NSDC, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, has disclosed that the National Sugar Masterplan, 2012-2022, has been extended for another 10 years- 2023-2033.
Adedeji, who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a visit by Executive members of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria, CICAN, said NSDC recorded major breakthroughs for the country with the implementation of the National Sugar Masterplan.
He explained that the first phase of the sugar master plan was approved in 2012 and spanned through an entire decade to 2022 with landmark achievements.
According to him, the cardinal objectives of the policy were to ensure that Nigeria attains self-sufficiency in sugar production, cut down or completely eliminate the importation of refined sugar into the country, create job opportunities for the teeming youth population as well as generate electricity and production of ethanol for industrial purposes.
The NSDC boss said that the council will continue to work with stakeholders such as the media to achieve its mandate of pursuing the continuous growth of the local sugar industry and the attainment of self-sufficiency in sugar production.
He assured CICAN of the continued support of the Sugar Council, adding that this partnership has become even more critical now that the National Sugar Masterplan mandate has been extended for another 10 years, from 2023-2033.
Adedeji also called for the support of the media to enable the agency to achieve what he described as an ambitious and achievable target contained in the extended sugar master plan.
“For us in the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), we take our core mandate seriously and we don’t joke with our partners in progress, in the media who bridge the gap between us and the general public.
“The robust, mutually beneficial relationship we have had with you and your colleagues over the years is one thing we don’t take for granted. As always, our doors are always open to all our friends in the media. Anytime you call, we always give you an audience.
“Now that you have come with the newly elected leaders of your association, I want to assure both the new leaders and the past leadership that we will cooperate with you to deliver on your constitutional mandate of informing and educating Nigerians on happenings in the country as you support us to also deliver on our own mandate of pursuing the continuous growth of the local sugar Industry and the attainment of self-sufficiency in sugar production.
“You must be aware of the extension of the National Sugar Masterplan mandate for another 10 years, from 2023-2033, with all the ambitious and achievable targets contained therein.
“Let me respectfully refresh your memories, ladies and gentlemen, that during the first phase of the NSMP implementation from 2012-2022, we made a lot of landmark breakthroughs which we believe deserve more attention from you.
“Friends and partners in the Media, let me, therefore, use this medium to appeal to you to join us in this NSMP crusade from now to 2033 and ensure you give our activities and successes more publicity and visibility in your respective, reputable media organizations,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of CICAN, Mr. Ifeanyi Onuba, said one of the purposes of the visit was to commend the agency for supporting the activities of the association over the years.
Onuba also used the occasion to seek new areas of partnership between CICAN and the Council.
He said being an important agency of government that is in charge of Nigeria’s sugar sector, it has become imperative for it to continue to educate and inform the people through the media on its activities and programs.
He further noted that with such engagements with the media, Nigerians will be better informed on what the government is doing to attract investments into the sector, thereby making Nigeria self-reliant in sugar production.