Business
Nigeria To End Sugar Imports In 2018 – Dangote
Nigerian leading Industri
alist, Aliko Dangote says Nigeria will stop sugar importation by 2018 as President Goodluck Jonathan launches Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) in Abuja.
Dangote who spoke at the launch of the NIRP and the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP), described the launch as giant stride because stakeholders were carried along in their conception.
He said that with the enabling environment, right policies and political will of the Jonathan’s administration, the sugar sub-sector would witness the same turnaround as in cement.
Specifically, he said with the backward integration policy introduced in the sub-sector, Nigeria would cease to be a net importer of sugar in the next four years.
He recalled that from the net annual production of two million tonnes of cement few years back, which was not adequate for local consumption in 2013 the country for the first time exported cement with a net production of more than 29 million tonnes.
Dangote hailed the Jonathan administration’s efforts to bring down bank interest rate to manufacturers to single digit.
He said that while his company was constructing the Obajana cement factory in Kogi, he borrowed at 4 per cent interest rate with short term of 90 days.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.