Taraba, Dangote Partner On Sugar Production

The Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, says Dangote Group has commenced the establishment of a sugar plantation and a factory project in Lau Local Government Area of the state.

The governor made this known recently in Jalingo, while speaking to newsmen shortly after signing a reviewed agreement with the company.

Ishaku disclosed that the company paid the state government N1.2 billion as compensation for 16,000 hectares of land for the project after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He expressed regret that a dispute on welfare of the host community was partly responsible for the 13 year delay in the commencement of the project.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Justice, Mr Yusufu Akirikweh, said that the state currently has six per cent equity shares in Dangote Group, having successfully reviewed the contract it earlier signed.

A representative of Dangote Group, Mr Joseph Makojo, commended the governor for his passion and commitment to clear every hitch on the way of the project.

According to him, Dangote group was committed to making the country self sufficient in rice, sugar and other crops.

The company is expected to produce large quantity of sugar, animal feeds and ethanol, an energy source that is being described as ‘white oil’.