Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Professor Joseph Utsev on Wednesday began talks with the Jigawa state government to eatabliahba robust partnership with the Federal Government toward scaling up sugar production in the country.
Nigeria’s sugar production in 2023 is reported to be approximately 30,000 to 30,053 metric tonnes annually, which is substantially lower than the country’s consumption needs estimated at about 1.6 to 1.8 million metric tonnes per year.
NewsQuest learned that Nigeria still relies heavily on imports to meet domestic sugar demand.
According to a statement by the Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to Water Resources Minister Terhemen Oraduen, Professor Utsev announced the new plan for partnership when the Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi visited him in Abuja.
Professor Utsev who said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu administration was geared towards accelerating food production, job creation and youth empowerment for economic growth and development, described the partnership between Federal Government and Jigawa State as crucial towards making lives meaningful for all citizens.
He promised to undertake a working visit to the sugar factory in Jigawa State to ascertain the water situation for possible intervention to make the factory viable for citizens to maximise its benefits.
In his remarks, Governor Namadi explained that the visit was to solicit partnership with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to ensure steady water supply at its sugar factory to ensure steady production and add value to the economy of the state and the nation as a whole.
Jigawa State is presently in partnership with a Chinese company, targeting to produce over 120,000 metric tons of sugar per annum at optimal capacity, and a projected annual turnover of about N60 billion, with potential expansion through new investments like the Dangote sugar plant.
