Sugar Development Council Seeks End to Sharp Practices
The Executive Secretary (ES), of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Zacch Adedeji, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tackle economic sabotage and other unwholesome practices in the sugar sector.
In a statement by NSDC’s Director Press, Ahmed Waziri, Adedeji identified EFCC as an important government agency to partner with the Council to ensure that Nigeria attains self-sufficiency in sugar production through the implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP).
Adedeji made the call during a visit to the EFCC Chairman, AbdulRasheed Bawa, in Abuja.
He said the Council was implementing a 10-year Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), aimed at attaining self-sufficiency in the production of sugar.
He listed other objectives of the plan to include job creation, ethanol production, stem the importation of sugar, as well as generate electricity.
The council, he said, was working hard to turn around the sector for the benefit of Nigerians.
He added that the EFCC was empowered by law to handle fraud. “We have mooted the idea of establishing a Sugar Intelligence Desk to comprise the NSDC, EFCC, Customs and other relevant MDAs in other to track and monitor sugar-related activities on and off the ports.”
Bawa pledged the EFCC’s readiness to offer technical assistance and support to government’s agencies.
”We are here to work with the Council 100 per cent. Feel free to contact us on issues that border on economic and financial crimes. This is the only country we have. It is our responsibility to rid it of any form of crime. Let’s work as partners in this regards,” he added.
Nation/Hauwa Abu
