Nigeria targets sugar self-sufficiency by 2011

Nigeria will be self-sufficient in sugar production by 2011, the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Usman Bello, has said.

Bello said when combined together, the total ongoing and proposed sugar projects, the country will attain 70 percent sugar production for the domestic market.

"At the moment, Nigeria is producing about 120,000 tonnes of sugar per annum while it consumes 1.2 million tonnes per annum."

He explained that the sector is recording tremendous progress, "because within the last seven years, we have witnessed 12 new companies in sugar production and processing, unlike before, when we only had four companies which belonged to the government alone."

Bello said the council is working out proposals to establish six zonal flexible sugar industries where each of them would produce 100,000 tonnes of sugar per annum, 50,000 litres per day of ethanol and generate 20 mega watt of electricity. " Most countries are generating electricity from their sugar projects and Nigerian will not be left behind."

He said the electricity to be generated will be used by the factories while the surplus will be supplied to the national grid.

Daily Trust