By Isaac Kertyo
The Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Zacch Adedeji, yesterday warned that erring sugar operators who distort the sugar master plan would be sanctioned.
Adedeji gave the warning at the presentation of the 2022 Presidential Approval for Raw Sugar Quota Allocations to Refineries in Abuja.
He said: “Our actions are backed up by laws, and we shall rely on the provisions of the law to sanction any erring operator should the need arises.”
He urged the Backward Integration Programme (BIP) operators to sign their recommitments to the scheme.
He maintained that the Council is committed to making the sugar sector environment more business-friendly and transparent through policy formulation and technical supports.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated interest in the sector in so many ways. Only recently, as part of his government’s commitment to cushioning the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the sugar industry, Buhari launched a $73 million irrigation infrastructure intervention fund.
According to him, the meeting was primarily convened to formally present approval letters for 2022 raw sugar quota allocations to refineries, deliberate on some Presidential
Directives on activities in sugar sub-sector, provide updates on BIP projects by way of work plans for operations in 2022 as well as updates on status of implementation of the Presidential intervention in irrigation infrastructures in BIP sites
