The Federal Government has commended the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Mohammed Kawu, and the Lafiagi community for maintaining peace and supporting the growth of the Lafiagi Sugar Company (LASUCO).
The Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, gave the commendation on Sunday during a courtesy visit to the Emir’s palace in Lafiagi, Kwara State.
Enoh said LASUCO has recorded the least community-related crises among sugar projects across the country, attributing the relative peace to the community’s understanding and appreciation of the economic benefits of hosting a large-scale sugar estate.
The minister, who later inspected the BUA Group-owned sugar estate, said the visit marked the beginning of nationwide inspections of sugar estates as part of the Federal Government’s renewed push to support the sugar industry.
He emphasized the critical role of traditional institutions and host communities in sustaining agro-industrial investments, noting that community support is essential to the success of such projects.
Enoh said the benefits of the LASUCO project would primarily accrue to the people of Lafiagi, stressing that supporting the plantation ultimately means supporting the community’s development.
He added that after nearly a year of stakeholder engagements within the sugar sector, including with the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) and sugar companies, it was necessary to move beyond Abuja and assess operations on the ground.
The minister expressed optimism that the visit would lead to tangible milestones for the sugar industry and the host community.