Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has been presented the International Standard Organisation (ISO) 900:2015 Certificate of Quality Management System by the The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
The Director-General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, at the presentation ceremony, urged the awardee to adhere to the standards so approved.
While congratulating the council, he said the award sets NSDC at par with a privileged class of quality management system certified and upgraded organisations in the country.
Represented at the occasion by SON scribe, Mr. Yado Felix, Salim however, warned that the agency reserved the right to withdraw the certificate in case of non-compliance and if corrections are not adhered to.
Mr Zacch Adedeji, Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC)
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Mon Jul 26 2021
Mr Zacch Adedeji is the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC). In this interview, he said the target of Nigeria’s Sugar Master Plan is to end sugar importation and earn Foreign Exchange (forex) with sugar exports through Backward Integration Programme (BIP).
What is your assessment of the sugar industry in Nigeria?
One of the greatest assets we have at the NSDC today is the Master Plan put in place by the agency. The Agency has succeeded in stopping the importation of refined sugar. The country was spending heavily on the importation of refined sugar hitherto to meet its consumption, which has now grown to 1.7 million metric tonnes. Through the instrumentality of the plan put in place by the agency, Nigeria now has a combined local production capacity that is about twice that.
Following misconceptions over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBNâs) selection of Dangote Sugar Refinery, BUA Sugar Refinery, and Golden Sugar Company, owned by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc as the sole importers of sugar in the country, the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Zacch Adedeji last week spoke with a select team of journalists to clarify the CBNâs decision, which he said is also in the interest of smaller Sugar companies and the Nigerian consumers, Festus Akanbi was there
Recently the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced that sugar importation should be restricted to Dangote, BUA, and Golden Sugar. Many people feel this is empowering a few big players who can fix prices, What is your take?
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The Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) and former Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State, Mr Zacch Adedeji, speaks to journalists on the restriction of sugar importation permit to three big players in the industry, his vision for NSDC, effort being made at addressing constraints to the realisation of self-sufficiency in local sugar production, among others.
You were recently appointed Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari, can you tell us about yourself, your career and the journey so far at the NSDC?
I am from Iwo Ate in Ogbomosho area of Oyo State. I got my first degree in Accounting from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, where by the grace of God I attained First Class honours. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and I later completed a Master’s degree in Accounting from OAU. More recently, I
Obinna Chima
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday stated that sugar importation in the country can only be done by Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Golden Sugar Company, owned by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc and BUA Sugar Refinery Limited.
The central bank disclosed this in a circular dated July 16, titled: “Sugar Importation in Nigeria,” signed by the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, CBN, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, a copy of which was posted on the regulator’s website yesterday.
The CBN hinged its reason for selecting the aforementioned sugar manufacturers on the fact that the three companies had made reasonable progress in achieving backward integration in the sector.