Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR) has unveiled plans to produce 700,000 metric tonnes of refined sugar from locally grown sugarcane in the next four years, through its Backward Integration Programme (BIP).

Chairman of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Aliko Dangote stated this at the company’s 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held yesterday in Lagos, just as the Nigerian Exchange released the company’s first-quarter result for 2024, indicating an increase of 20.1 per cent in its revenue to N122.7 billion.

Dangote, at the AGM, said in alignment with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s policy guidelines, DSR continues to focus on and enhance its Backward Integration Project (BIP) by deploying and reviewing project strategies to ensure efficient delivery.

He noted that the 700,000 metric tonnes would meet 50 per cent of the current market demand for refined sugar. According to him, the 10-year sugar development plan to produce 1.5 million MT of sugar per annum from locally grown sugarcane remains a germane roadmap to the attainment of the Company’s objectives.

Our focus is on achieving the revised targets set for DSR Numan Operations, Dangote Adamawa Sugar Limited, and Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited, while we are hopeful that the Taraba State Government will resolve the community payment issues that have led to the stoppage of activities at the Dangote Taraba Sugar Limited, Lau/Tau project.”

He added that “…During the year under review, despite the challenges we were faced with, the company significantly scaled up investment in the Backward Integration Projects with the ongoing expansion of the DSR Numan factory refining capacity from 3,000TCD to 9,800TCD year-end.

The factory will be increased with an additional 5,200TCD to 15,000 TCD (tonnes of cane crushed per day) eventually to meet the need in view of the massive land development activities also going on at the site. The aim is to achieve 24,200 hectares in total by the year 2029.”

He also emphasised that despite the adverse impact on the business environment by the continuous increase in the inflationary trend, lack of liquidity and FX to fund the company’s equipment import among others for the backward integration projects, concerted efforts are ongoing to secure the needed funds for the development of the Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited project at Tunga in Awe Local Government Area of the state.

This will enable the company to put in place the needed infrastructure for the eventual commencement of full-scale production and ensure that the Dangote Sugar Backward Integration ‘Sugar for Nigeria Project’ is achieved. In the end, over $700 million investment would be committed to the Backward Integration Programme,” he added.

Dangote said that the Dangote Sugar (Ghana) Limited, was established as a subsidiary of the Company during the year under review, in line with the plan to expand its presence in the sugar industry across Africa.

On outlook, he stated that “achievement of the goals of the Sugar Backward Integration Master Plan remains our focus. This will go a long way in delivering the anticipated benefits, especially in FX savings and cushioning its impact on our operations amongst other benefits to the company, all stakeholders, and the nation.”

Group Managing Director/CEO of Dangote Sugar, Ravindra Singhvi said, “Despite these challenges, we are resolute and focused on the delivery of our business targets in the medium to long term.”

He pointed out that “as we continue to navigate through the scarcity and high cost of foreign exchange, escalating costs of raw materials amongst others, our focus is to enhance the effectiveness of our supply chain processes, optimise cost, improve our operational efficiencies and delivery on our Sugar for Nigeria backward integration project.”

He said “the target is to produce a minimum of 1.5MT refined sugar annually from locally produced sugarcane at our integrated sugar production estates, which is expected to alleviate some pressure on costs and our demand for foreign currency.

Achievement of a sustainable business remains one of our key strategies and concerted efforts were made towards sustaining the achievements we have recorded in the past,” Singhvi added.

A Kano High Court sitting at Audu Bako secretariat has fixed May 27, 2024, for the commencement of hearing of three applications in the case of the suspension of the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The Court presided over by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba after listening to counsels from both parties involved set the date for the hearing.

The applications are preliminary objection, joinder application and challenge of jurisdiction of the court to entertain and hear the matter.

Breaking:Court Vacates Order Suspending Ganduje As APC National Chairman

The applicants, Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Sani Barguma through their counsel, Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad filed a motion exparte with 13 paragraph affidavit dated April 16 sworn by the second.

The applicants are seeking for the Court to determine an order of interim injunction on Ganduje’s suspension.

The court had on 17th April granted an order directing parties to maintain status quo as at the 15th day of April, 2024, in relation to the suspension of the fourth respondent from the first respondent by the Ganduje Ward executive committee restraining the respondents whether by themselves, servants, agents, privies from taking any step contrary to the decision of the executive committee of Ganduje Ward which suspends the fourth respondent from the first respondent political party pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

A Kano High Court sitting at Audu Bako secretariat has fixed May 27, 2024, for the commencement of hearing of three applications in the case of the suspension of the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The Court presided over by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba after listening to counsels from both parties involved set the date for the hearing.

The applications are preliminary objection, joinder application and challenge of jurisdiction of the court to entertain and hear the matter.
The applicants, Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Sani Barguma through their counsel, Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad filed a motion exparte with 13 paragraph affidavit dated April 16 sworn by the second applicant.

The applicants are seeking for the Court to determine an order of interim injunction on Ganduje’s suspension.

The court had on 17th April granted an order directing parties to maintain status quo as at the 15th day of April, 2024, in relation to the suspension of the fourth respondent from the first respondent by the Ganduje Ward executive committee restraining the respondents whether by themselves, servants, agents, privies from taking any step contrary to the decision of the executive committee of Ganduje Ward which suspends the fourth respondent from the first respondent political party pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel to the applicant, Ibrahim Sa’ad, said they were served with the counter affidavit by the respondent this morning in court.
He asked for another date to enable them respond to the application.

Counsel to the first, second and third respondents did not object to the request made by the counsel to the applicant for a new date to be given.

“We have filed and served all parties our motion dated April 24 challenging the juriaoof this Court to entertain this matter.”

Counsel to the fourth respondent, Lydia Oyewo, did not also object the new date but told the court that her client was not served with the court processes.

“We have not been served with the processes of the Court. The plaintiff is in contempt of the court because they have failed with the order of the Court directing him to serve all the defendants in the matter.”

“Particularly, we are appearing out of respect to the court. Our client has not been served so we could not file any processes before the Court.

However we have been unable to compile and transmit record. In essence, the court of appeal is not yet seized with the jurisdiction for the matter and then for this court to determine and continue with the matter pending when we did the needful.

“This is an intra party matter and the court has held severally to even to the apex court that the court does not have jurisdiction to hear and determine intra party matters that has to do with leadership, membership and discipline of members.”

On their part, parties seeking to be joined led by Barrister S. U Jibril informed the Court of their position in joining the matter.

After listening to both counsels, Justice Usman Malam Na’abba fixed 27 May to enable both parties to serve their processes and for hearing of the three applications.

Some land agents at Hotoro GRA have attributed the rise in the price of land in the area to the presence of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria which is situated at Kwanar Maggi in the area.

One of the land agents, Muhammad Najume, told our reporter that the rise in the price started immediately after the commencement of academic activities in the university.

Mr Najume disclosed that a plot of land that was sold at N20 million in 2023 is now sold at about N150 million or above.

“This can be attributed to the economic situation and the presence of the university in the area.

“The skyrocketing has not only affected the Hotoro Area but has extended to the Kawo Community,” he added.

Another agent, Mallam Isa, also disclosed that a house that you should buy at N500,000 in the last 3 years is now N3 million today.

“People are buying old houses to renovate them to hostels that will accommodate students,” said Mr Isa.

Speaking with a resident who is also a house owner, Musa Okuri, said the University has brought massive development to the community with its corporate social responsibility.

Mr Okuri said: “The university management recently renovated one of the community secondary schools which they decided to name after the founder, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo.

“The establishment of new private universities in Northern will not only add value to the region by boosting its economy but will help in building cities in the area they are located in.

“This is exactly what the Hotoro residents are experiencing today.”

On his part, Usman Yahaya, a businessman at the area who sells Shawarma, Burger, narrated the development the university brought to them.

He said: “Before the university was establishment, we don’t make profit, but now there is security, we make huge profit, and the place has become very busy. This is a massive development. ”

Another businessman who owns a provision store, Ibrahim Haladu, said there is profit unlike before the presence of the university.

“My business is growing, the place is busy, there is employment opportunities and is as a result of the university.” Ibrahim said.

Haruna Tijjani Kwa, a student of Business Administration in the University who resides in Kawo, described the university and the environment as conducive.

“I’m enjoying my stay here, and I’m proud of studying at Maryam Abacha American University.”

Umma Salma Auwal Muhammad, a law student who came all the way from Maiduguri, described the university as one of the best for providing them with a conducive learning environment and good lecturers”.

“I live here at Hotoro, the people here treat us very well, I feel like I’m at home.” She said.