Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc has said it is investing over $700m on its sugar projects as parts of its commitment to the federal government Backward Integration Policy (BIP) efforts of making Nigeria self-sufficient in sugar production.
The General Manager for the Backward Integration Project, Dangote Sugar, Mr John Beverley told Nasarawa state lawmakers at the weekend that the company’s investments in sugar will revolutionize the economy of the state.
He said when the factory is fully operational, it would have the capacity to crush 12,000 tons of cane per day, while 90 megawatts of power will be generated for both the company’s use and for the host communities.
He said some 500- kilometre roads will be constructed to ease transportation within the vicinity, according to a statement sent by the company.
The GM also urged the lawmakers to help in controlling the menace of land encroachment by settlers and farmers.
He said the company has been carrying out Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in the communities, pointing out that so far it has constructed boreholes, schools, clinics and awarded scholarships among other services.
Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullah, who led the team round the 78,000 hectares BIP project in Tunga, Awe LGA, said the $500m so far expended by Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc in the state is a blessing to Nigeria.
The speaker said the news that the project would create about 150,000 jobs is a welcome one.
