Alhaji Muhammad Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group of Companies, disclosed his satisfaction with the agricultural achievements in kwara, Kebbi and Sokokto states, and promised to invest over $600 million in the production of sugar in the states.
Dangote stated this during a courtesy visit to the Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed at the Government House, Ilorin.
In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said Dangote intend to replicate what it did in the cement industry, by targeting about 65million tonnes of sugar which he said could produce about one million jobs for the people.
He said in the next five years, the company would produce and grow two million tonnes of sugar, as part of efforts to ensure that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in consumables instead of depending on importation.
He said Nigeria was wasting quite a lot of money in the importation of about two million tons of sugar, adding that the company has identified Patigi local government area for the sugar cane plantation.
He expressed the hope that with the cooperation of the people and the state government, the project would take-off before the end of the year.
Governor Ahmed said his administration was very committed to working with investors in its bid to transform the economic lives of the people.
Ahmed assured Dangote that his administration would create the enabling environment for would-be investors to operate, coupled with adequate security for the growth of the economy.
The Governor said Nigeria would never get it wrong if it invested in agriculture as the northern part of the country was endowed with arable soil which could be utilised for agriculture as a foreign exchange earner for the nation.
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