Anne Ejuka
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| Godwin Emefiele CBN Governor |
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has restricted the importation of sugar into the country to only BUA Sugar Refinery Ltd, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, and Golden Sugar Company.
The CBN stated that their notable contribution to the Backward Integration Program introduced by the Federal Government was the reason the three companies were the only ones allowed to import sugar into the country and to that effect, no company outside the aforementioned three should import sugar into the country.
This was disclosed in a circular issued on Friday by the bank’s Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, with reference number TED/FEM/PUB/FPC/01/006.
It read, “The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the National Sugar Development Council, established the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan to encourage sugar refining companies in their Backward Integration Programme for local sugar production.
“Accordingly, the under-listed three companies, who have made reasonable progress in achieving backward integration in the sector, shall only be allowed to import sugar into the country: BUA Sugar Refinery Limited, Dangote Sugar Refinery Pic, and Golden Sugar Company.
“In view of the foregoing, authorized dealers shall not open Forms M or access foreign exchange in the Nigerian foreign exchange market for any company including the three listed above for the importation of sugar without the prior and express approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria as the bank is charged with the mandate of monitoring the implementation of the backward integration programs of all the companies".
Recall that in April, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele stated that the bank planns to include sugar and wheat on the list of import items banned from accessing foreign exchange.
He had said, “We are looking at sugar and wheat. We started a program on milk about two years ago. Eventually, these products will go into our FX restriction list". Nigeria currently spends between $600m to $1bn on sugar importation annually.
