.Seeks private sector support on economy
By Jubrin Mohammed,
Minna
President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the N50 billion Sunti Golden Sugar Company and Housing Estate in Sunti, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
He also solicited for the private sector partnership on investment opportunities and job creation.
While commissioning the project on Thursday, March 15, 2018, Buhari said that it had become obvious that no government could provide every human need without the support of the private investors.
The president said that coming of the Sunti Golden Sugar factory in Mokwa was timely as Nigeria has come out of recession, stressing, “Nigeria has shown considerable progress. We are looking inward to our natural endowments and deposits”.
He said that the era of crude oil as mainstay of Nigeria’s economy was gone.
“We are focusing on agriculture and other non-oil sectors. The mill as I was told cost the company N50 billion, and it is expected to produce 100,000 metric tons of sugar on an annual basis.
“It will provide direct employment for about 10, 000 people yearly and impact up to 50, 000 people indirectly, including 3, 000 small-scale out growers”, the President said as he expressed appreciation to the investors for supporting in the building of the Nigerian economy.
While commending the company for creating job opportunities for Nigerians, Buhari said, “The flour mill and similar investors have shown commitments to Nigeria all through the good times and bad times”.
Buhari pointed out that the derivable benefits and economic possibilities of River Niger and other natural endowments could not be overemphasized, saying, “it is time to explore and harness such God-given natural gifts benefits from across Nigeria for commerce and investment”.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State had said the agricultural sector in the state was getting the needed attention it required to generate employment opportunities and accelerate income growth and development.
The Chairman, Flour Mills Nigeria, Mr. John Coumantaros, said that the estate would set the country on the path to becoming self-sufficient in sugar production capable of serving local markets and for neighbouring countries.