Dangote, BUA Agree to End Sugar War

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The dispute over the control of the sugar industry in Nigeria between Dangote Group and BUA Group seems to have ended if the resolutions reached during a meeting held recently are anything to believe.

The owners of the two companies, Mr Aliko Dangote of Dangote Group and Mr Abdussamad Rabiu of BUA Group had been in a silent sugar war and it is over who takes charge of the sector in Nigeria.

It was reported earlier that Mr Dangote wrote a petition to the Minister for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Mr Niyi Adebayo, alleging that BUA was carrying out acts against the sugar policy of the federal government, warning that it could affect the economy.

BUA responded by saying he was being victimised because he refused to increase the price of the commodity, especially at a time the demand for sugar was expected to rise because of the ongoing yearly fast called Ramadan observed by Muslims worldwide.

The situation forced the Governor of Kano State to intervene, especially because the two businessmen involved in this roforofo fight are from his state.

On Wednesday, he invited the duo to the Kano Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja and made them bury their differences in the presence of some dignitaries, including Mr Adebayo, Mr Aminu Alhassan Dantata, and Chairman of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Mr Adamu Panda.

Others at the gathering a representative of the Kano Emirate, Mr Aminu Babba Dan Agundi; Chairman of the Council of Kano Imams, Sheikh Muhammad Nasir Adam; and the Chief Imam of Sheikh Ahmadu Tijjani Friday Mosque, Mr Kofar Mata.

Governor Ganduje, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Abba Anwar, on Thursday, said it was in the best interest of the nation that the two moguls reconcile and put a stop to all rumours making round over sugar control in the country.

At the meeting, Mr Dangote and Mr Rabiu agreed to work together to supply enough sugar to satisfy the demand of the country.

They all dismissed the allegation that Dangote was planning to see to the increase of sugar price by pressuring BUA to succumb to the increment, describing it as baseless and lacking any iota of truth.

The duo said they would collaborate as brothers for the growth and development of the nation at large, assuring that, henceforth, there would be no differences that would cause any disharmony between them.