By Admin
The minister of Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo was on 28th January, commissioned Nigeria Sugar Institute located at Jimba Oja in Ifelodun local government area of kwara state.
The minister, while addressing the Journalists at the commissioning venue said his ministry will continue to do its best in meeting expectations of all Nigerians with respect to industrialisation goals through a workable public private partnership.
“This commissioning is a landmark achievement and a testament to what public private partnership can achieve. The sugar industry holds a special place in Nigeria’s industrialisation struggle. It carries the expectation of creating over a hundred thousand jobs. The NSI is one of the key instruments for its sustainability,” Adebayo said.
Speaking at the event, Governor AbdulRazaq commended the Federal Government for siting the research institute in Kwara and went on to urge quick resolutions of all pending issues around the moribund firm.
“We implore the minister to help us to talk to AMCON to urgently resolve the issues surrounding the Bacita sugar company. We have met with AMCON and we are aware they are trying to unbundle it. Once that is done, with Bacita and BUA refineries, Kwara will be the leading producer of sugar in the whole of West Africa,” he said.
The appeal was followed with an announcement by the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council Dr. Latif Busari who said works have reached an advanced stage and test run production would begin in the last quarter of 2023 as new owners have commenced various background works.
That comes as AbdulRazaq announced the siting of a special economic zone in Kwara State one of the six being established by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The Governor said the economic zone, which is to be sited in Lasoju Otte in Asa local government area of the state is a huge investment that would attract large businesses, create jobs, and lead to socioeconomic growth of the state.
He commended the President and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Otunba Niyi Adebayo for the support that ceded the north central slot of the six economic zones to Kwara State.
“This project is very gigantic. Six of it is to be established across the country. We facilitated the siting of the project in the state through the Honourable Minister. We thank the Honourable Minister for his support. When completed, the project will change the economic fortune of this local government and the state at large,” AbdulRazaq said at a brief visit to the site in company of the Minister on Thursday
