OREDOLA ADEOLA
President Muhammadu Buhari has officially commissioned the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate in Niger State.
The President was conducted round the facilities of plant by Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, and Chairman Flour Mills Nigeria John G. Coumantaros.
While commissioning the project on Thursday, President Buhari disclosed that the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate was timely as Nigeria makes her journey out of recession and the economy continues to show considerable progress.
According to him, the project was a reminder of one of the cardinal objectives of the administration which is to look inwards as we focus on our natural endowments in agriculture, and other non-oil sectors for inclusive growth and development.
Buhari said, “ The level of work and magnitude of investment that we are witnessing here today is a clear demonstration that our policies on economic diversification are attracting the right kind of support and engagement.
" I congratulate the entire members of the board, management and staff of Flour Mills for such a major step in expanding the business and creating more jobs for our people.
“Since the establishment of Flour Mills in 1960, the company has repeatedly shown commitment to Nigeria, through good times and bad.
“The Sunti Golden Sugar Estate, as I am told, was built at a cost of over fifty billion naira making it one of the largest Agro-allied investments in Nigeria today, with a capacity to produce 100,000 metric tons of sugar annually.
“ I am informed the Estate will engage up to 10,000 people directly including a network of over 3,000 small-scale out growers of Sugar cane. This to my mind is central to our administration’s determination to have an inclusive economy.
"The socio-economic impact of such a massive investment, in rural area of Nigeria, cannot be quantified.
“ Lives will change for thousands in these localities. And the impact on the national economy will be significant.
“The location of the Sunti Sugar Estate on the banks of the River Niger is as notable as it is commendable. The enormous economic possibilities inherent here have perhaps been overlooked for far too long.
" It is on record that the Niger River Basin has played an essential role in the lives of the people who have had to depend on the basin for their subsistence,” he said.
President Buhari charged other investors in the country to take a cue from the investor of the sugar refinery by taking advantage of the tributaries of the river and proximity to the Kainji dam and the ecosystem.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to the transformation and diversification of the economy, adding that he would continue to support businesses by creating enabling business environment.
He also promised to focus more on the improvement of security and critical infrastructure, like roads, construction of rails and power generation across the country.
He noted that government cannot do everything alone, adding that his administration need the support of private sector.
The President however implored the management of the company to further develop the Sunti-Mokwa road through its corporate social responsibility programs.
This according to him, will complement the flour mills ongoing rebuilding of the critical Apapa-Wharf Road in conjunction with other private and public-sector stakeholders.
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