Dangote Flags Off Africa’s Largest Sugar Plant In Nasarawa

Posted on June 8, 2017

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Africa’s richest man and Chairman, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has flagged off the construction of what will be “the largest sugar plant in Africa” when completed.

The flagging off of the factory to be located in Tunga, Nasarawa State, was done at an elaborate ceremony in Lafia on Thursday.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, the billionaire expressed optimism that the project would not only boost the economic diversification agenda of the federal government but also provide jobs for the teeming unemployed population while bringing Nigeria closer to sugar self-sufficiency.

“Today we celebrate another milestone that will transform our economy. Our Tunga Sugar Project will create the largest sugar plant in Africa. This project will further diversify our economy, create employment and help achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production,” Dangote stated in a series of tweets Thursday evening.

He also eulogised and praised Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Okechukwu Enalamah, his industry, trade and investment counterpart and Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for their contribution towards reviving the nation’s agricultural sector.

He also extended profound gratitude to the host governor, Governor Tanko Al-Makura and the good people of Nasarawa State for their support.

Earlier last month during a visit to Governor Al-Makura, Dangote had said the plant would be capable of producing 480 tons of sugar while generating 96 mega watts of electricity for the state.

“The production capacity of the sugar factory in Nasarawa will be the first in West Africa,” he said.

“No sugar factory produces more than 250 tones, so we are doing double in the state. We need about 600 trucks to distribute the sugar across the country.”

Dangote said the factory would create employment for not less than 30,000 people.

Dangote also said the plantation would create enabling environment for other industries to spring up in the state.

“This will create multiplicity of jobs and increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

“The employment, even for us as a company, will be over 30,000. We will do out- grower which will take another 10000 people.