By Dipo Olowookere

The Dangote Sugar Refinery has been commended for its significant investment in the sugar Backward Integration Policy (BIP) of the federal government.

Business Post reports that so far, Dangote Sugar has committed over $700 million to the scheme aimed to stem the national annual sugar import of over $337 million to enable Nigeria to attain national sugar self-sufficiency which will, in turn, revolutionise the economy of the nation as other people-oriented infrastructures would come with the sugar projects being undertaken under the BIP.

Speaking during a visit to Dangote Group’s pavilion at the ongoing Kano International Trade Fair, Mr Silas Agara, the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), said the sugar miller’s action would also create jobs for citizens.

“Dangote Sugar in Tunga in Awe Local Government of Nasarawa State is commendable for improving the Communities in Tunga. It has created job opportunities for the teaming youth and improved livelihoods,” the former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State said.

While noting that the company’s commitment is critical for the development of the sugar industry in Nigeria, the NDE chief said, “Nasarawa is proud of Aliko Dangote (the chairman of Dangote Sugar). Tunga Sugar is a spinner for Nigeria’s economy.”

Mr Agara urged Mr Dangote to step up community advocacy, and more collaboration with stakeholders to drive greater positive change in the communities.

However, he noted that, “There isn’t any dissenting voice on Tunga sugar, and the communities have enjoyed growth and development through the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies.”

Recall that recently, members of Nasarawa State House of Assembly visited the Dangote Sugar Tunga BIP project which they described as a blessing to the state.

The Dangote’s Sugar Master Plan and the company’s commitment to the sugar projects in Tunga, Awe Local Government of Nasarawa, and that of Numan in Adamawa State have scaled up the drive towards realization of National Sugar objectives.

The aim is to produce 700,000 metric tonnes of refined sugar from locally grown sugarcane in the next four year, through BIP.

Nigeria is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest importers of sugar second only to South Africa, but the Dangote Sugar management assured that by the time the company fully completes its sugar projects in Nasarawa and Adamawa under the BIP, the nation would be saved of more than half of the forex expended on sugar imports annually.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday signed into law the Electricity Bill 2024 aimed at improving power supply in the state.

The new law also aims to establish an electricity market independent of the national grid.

The new law builds on last year’s constitution amendment removing electricity from the exclusive legislative list and placing it on the concurrent list to decentralise electricity matters.

The shift allows the state governments to participate in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.

This was disclosed by Mr Gboyega Akosile, Mr Sanwo-Olu’s special adviser on media and publicity, via his official handle on X, formerly Twitter.

“The bill is a major step by the state government, to ensure 24-hour electricity supply to every nook and cranny of the State, following the FG’s nod for states to generate and distribute energy in 2023,” he wrote.

Alongside the announcement, he posted a video showing his principal signing the bill.

The development comes after President Bola Tinubu assented to the electricity bill, which empowers states, companies and individuals to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity in June 2023.

The bill will replace the Lagos State Power Sector Reform Law 2018, in furtherance of the Electricity Act 2023 signed into law by the President.

The bill aims to address electricity challenges, improve energy sustainability and foster economic growth in the state.

It aims to enhance the electricity supply in Lagos State by establishing an independent electricity market.

Also, by virtue of the bill, the state electrification fund will be set up to ensure reliable electricity supply to the unserved and underserved areas in the state and attract investment.

This move is designed to reduce the state’s dependency on the national grid, which has long been plagued by power outages and ineptitude.

Electricity supply has been a major concern of successive governments, and the act has been touted to help the sector improve in the commercial capital.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The House of Representatives has urged President Bola Tinubu to order the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, to ensure that all frozen accounts of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) are unfrozen within 72 hours.

The lawmakers argued that unfreezing the accounts would enable the smooth recommencement of all the programmes of NSIPA.

The green chamber of the National Assembly is also urging the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to ensure all the administrative bottlenecks hindering the smooth operations of all programmes of NSIPA are immediately removed.

The resolutions were reached following the adoption of a motion sponsored by the deputy speaker and 20 other lawmakers.

The lower chamber of the parliament said despite the programmes of NSIPA being vital for poverty alleviation, youth empowerment, and economic inclusivity in Nigeria, the agency’s functionality has been hindered due to administrative bottlenecks, insufficient funding, and frozen accounts.

The programmes of NSIPA were truncated by alleged financial mismanagement by handlers of the programmes, leading to the suspension of programmes and freezing of the agency’s account and subsequent investigation by anti-corruption and security agencies.

Recall that President Tinubu suspended all administered programmes by NSIPA on January 12.

This came 10 days after he suspended Mrs Halima Shehu as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the agency, over alleged financial malfeasance.

Six days later, the President also suspended Mrs Betta Edu as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Mrs Edu’s ministry supervises NSIPA and came under scrutiny after a memo surfaced wherein she asked the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein to transfer the sum of N585 million to a private account.