By Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Flour Mills Nigeria (FMN) to establish sugar company in Toto Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The signing of the agreement which took place in at the Nasarawa State Government Lodge, Asokoro Abuja.
Speaking at the signing of the agreement, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said the MoU was in fulfilment of his promise during inauguration of his two years in office.
The governor explained that sugar company would stimulate economic activities, generate employment and bring development to the state.
Governor Sule explained that the state government would ensure that most of those that would work in the company are from the state.
He further disclosed that the government had already provided land for the project and would collaborate with the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure smooth operation of the company in the state.
Sule added that the government want the company to also engage in massive production of cassava in the same area for flour production.
Also speaking, Omoboyede Olusanya, Group Managing Director (GMD)/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FMN, lauded the state government for giving the company the opportunity to help to address economic problem in the state.
The GMD explained that the company would invest an initial $300 million in the project and would cover 2,450 hecters of land.
The CEO of FMN said the sugar company would stimulate economic activities in the state and provide employment opportunity to the people of the state.
Olusanya added that as part of their social corporate responsibility, the company would would build schools and recreational facilities among others.
On his part, Richard Adeniyi-Adebayo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment commended the Nasarawa State Governor for keying into the Federal Government efforts to diversify the economic.
He therefore called on the governor’s of other states to emulate Governor Sule in order to make the country self sufficient and even export agricultural products.
The event had in attendance Richard Adeniyi-Adebayo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Governors of Borno and Kwara States, Professor Umar Zulum, Abdurraman Abdulrazak.
Others are National and State House of Assembly members from Nasarawa State, Commissioners among other government functionaries.
