Dangote Group, Niger Govt Sign N166bn MoU on Sugar Production

 

The Niger State Government and the Dangote Group on Wednesday in Minna signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of an integrated sugar factory in Lavun Local Government Area of the state.

The state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, signed the document on behalf of the state government while the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, signed the document on behalf of the group.

The project entails the development of a sugar cane plantation of over 16,000 hectares of land to be supplemented by an out growers scheme  to produce 12,000 tons of sugarcane daily to be crushed and refined into high quality white sugar.

The programme that led to the signing of the MoU started in 2013.

It is expected that the actual work would start  by the end of September this year after the payment of compensation to land owners.

Speaking at the ceremony the governor

said the state government was irrevocably committed to the realisation of the project, and asked for the cooperation of traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the 43 communities that the scheme would cover for its success.

"It is my belief that with the signing of the Mou today, the state team and Dangote Group will work diligently to finalise the acquisition of land and execute the project development agreement in due course,” he said.

Bello observed that the benefits deserved for both parties in this project are enormous, including the provision of "thousands of jobs for our youths and the provision of social amenities for the host communities through the company’s corporate social responsibilities" principle.

The governor said with the favorable climate already created for local and international investors, the administration would also, through the state House of Assembly, promulgate a law  to protect genuine entrepreneurs.

In his address, Dangote said the firm "is a stunch believer in vast economic potential of Nigeria which has informed our desire to invest massively in some states across the country."

Dangote disclosed that the group would also acquire 150,000 hectares of land for sugar plantation in Adamawa Taraba, Nasarawa, Kwara States, stating that in addition to refined sugar, "these plants will also produce other beneficial products including electricity ethanol, animal feed from bagasse and molasses.

"We envisage that these investments will generate over 150,000 employment opportunities," Dangote said.