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Sugar Imports Drop To 800,000 Tonnes

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12 years ago

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Nigeria’s raw sugar
imports dropped to 800,000 tonnes from 1.4 million tonnes recorded in the first quarter of 2013, an official document stated.
The document was obtained by The Tide from the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) in Abuja over the weekend.
The document, signed by the Executive Secretary of NSDC, Dr Latif Busari,  also stated that refined sugar imports dipped from 1.88 per cent in 2012 to 0.67 per cent in 2013.
It adds that local price of sugar fell from N9,000 per 50kg in 2012 to N6,950 in 2013, representing a decrease of 23 per cent.
The document stated that total national demand for sugar rose from 1.5 million tonnes in 2012 to two million tonnes in 2013.
It added that sugar smuggling was virtually non-existent as refinery capacity utilisation rose from 60 per cent to 75 per cent.
The document attributed the successes to the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) launched in January, 2013 by the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The NSMP, which has a 10-year implementation period, aimed to produce 1.79 million tonnes of sugar; 161.2 million litres of ethanol and 411.7 MW annually.
Other deliverables of the plan were 1.6 million tonnes of animal feeds annually, 37,378 permanent jobs and 79,803 seasonal jobs.
In addition, the country expects to save between 350 million dollars and 500 million dollars annually in foreign exchange on sugar imports.
The NSCD document stated that so far, the number of sugar project sites in the country has increased from six in 2012 to 17 in 2013.
The document stated that the proposed two billion dollars investment in projects across six states by the Dangote Group will produce between one million tonnes and 1.5 million tonnes of sugar annually.
It further stated that Kenana Technical Services has substantially expanded its Savannah Sugar at Numan, Adamawa, from 6,500 hectares to 21,000 hectares by 2018 to produce 100,000 tonnes annually.
“FMNL/GSR through its Adeco Agric Group is to produce 60,000 tonnes of sugar annually from its 13,500 hectares arm in Sunti, Niger State, by 2018.
“Also, HoneyGold Group through its subsidiary, Costas Negocios, is to invest 300 million dollars on two sites in Adamawa State to produce 200,000 tonnes sugar annually,’’ it said.
According to the document, Crystal Sugar Mills has announced plans to invest 30 million dollars in expansion of its operations to produce 60,000 tonnes per annum by 2018.
“Confluence Sugar Company is poised to invest 240 million dollars to produce 200,000 tonnes sugar/annum on about 37,000 hectares at Ibaji in Kogi State,’’ it said.

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Association Woos Govt, Coys On  Boat Operators  Employments

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1 week ago

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June 12, 2026

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The leadership of Bonny Maritime Boat Association has called on Rivers state Government and oil companies operating in the state to provide sustainable employment to unemployed boat Operators.
The Association also want the government, companies and other relevant employers of labour to provide trainings for boat Operators to enhance their skills
Safety Officer of the Association, Comrade Kingdom Kingsley made this known in  a  telephone interview with  The Tide.
He noted that most of the boat Operators and owners plying Bonny route lacks jobs due to the fleets of boats introduced by Bonny Road Transport that had taken over the passengers to the Island
He noted that passengers are no longer patronizing boats owned by the Association, thereby rendering the operators redundant
“Most of our operators can not afford to feed their families due to no jobs, we don’t want to indulge in crime, government should fix our members with  sustainable jobs to take care of their immediate needs”
He called on oil companies operating in the state to engage their skilled boat Operators in their companies to reduce the sufferings faced by the Association.
The Safety Officer called on the state government  to made funds available to unemployed youths in the state to start up business than roam the streets.
He noted that provision of funds to youths would reduce crime rates and reposition their mindsets for a better life
“The  youths of Rivers state are suffering, have no job to feed their families, thereby indulging in criminality daily”
“The youths need empowerment,  jobs,  recreational facilities and better things of life as citizens of this Nation”, Kingsley said.
CHINEDU WOSU
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FG Approves $1 Bn AFCFTA Credit Facility For Nigerian Exporters

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1 week ago

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June 12, 2026

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The Federal Government has approved a whooping $1bn credit facility to support Nigerian exporters and small scale businesses to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to boost production, competitiveness and intra-African trade.
The $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility is also expected to address some of the financing gap being faced by Nigerian exporters and enhance the competitiveness of African businesses within the continental market.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this  during the second quarter 2026 meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee held in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Obilor-Duru Okechi, Oduwole said the financing facility represented a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses seeking to expand operations, modernise production processes and increase exports to African markets.
The statement partly read, “?The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s export-led growth agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area, unveiling opportunities for businesses to access a US$1 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility aimed at boosting production, competitiveness, and intra-African trade.”
She noted that despite the progress Nigeria had made in implementing the continental trade agreement, many local businesses continued to face obstacles that limited their ability to take advantage of the single African market.
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“Many businesses still face challenges relating to export documentation, certification, standards compliance and market access,” the minister said.
She explained that the Federal Government was addressing these bottlenecks through enhanced trade facilitation measures, simplified AfCFTA guidance tools, stakeholder engagement programmes and stronger collaboration with institutions such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Oduwole stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework by domesticating key AfCFTA protocols, particularly the Digital Trade Protocol, to position the country as a major player in Africa’s growing digital economy.
The minister also highlighted some of the gains recorded in Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation efforts.
According to her, the expansion of Nigeria’s Air Cargo Corridor Initiative to Rwanda, increased collaboration with development partners and private sector players, as well as sustained engagement with state governments, were helping to deepen awareness and participation in the continental market.
In her welcome address and first-quarter update, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs Patience Okala, provided details of the financing initiative.
Okala said the $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility was targeted at large African businesses with a minimum financing capacity of $10m.
She revealed that the National AfCFTA Coordination Office was working closely with fund managers to facilitate access for eligible Nigerian companies and had begun assembling a pilot group of businesses to ensure that Nigeria maximised the opportunities provided by the facility.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NIWA Harps On  Avoidance Of Leaking Boats

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1 week ago

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June 12, 2026

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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has advised Nigerians against boarding boats that require constant bailing of water in the interest of their safety.
 NIWA Area Manager for Cross River and Ebonyi, Mr Stanley Onuoha gave this warning in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar.
Onuoha who spoke on waterway
safety, said that passengers should take responsibility for their safety by inspecting boats before embarking on any journey.
According to him, repeated scooping of water from a boat is a clear indication that the vessel may be leaking.
“If you are entering a boat and see people using a bailer to remove water, it is the first signal that the boat is leaking,” he said.
He urged passengers to check the integrity of boats, including seating arrangements and other visible safety features.
The Manager restated the importance of using safety jackets, saying that damaged jackets may fail during emergencies.
He further said that passengers should ensure that safety jackets were appropriate for their body sizes in order to guarantee effective flotation.
 Onuoha reiterated the need for passengers to fill manifests before departure to aid accountability during emergencies.
The NIWA official further advised travellers to monitor weather conditions and avoid boarding boats when the weather is unfavourable.
According to him, poor weather conditions can trigger strong tidal waves capable of affecting small boats commonly used on inland waterways.
He said that waterway journeys should be embarked upon between 6.00a.m and 6.00p.m for clearer visibility.
Onuoha said  the Authority had continued to sensitise riverine communities to the need for safety precautions during waterway journeys.
He stated that sustained awareness campaigns and enforcement measures had contributed to safety waterway safety in Cross River.
CHINEDU WOSU
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