Business
Charting A way Forward: Minister Of State for industry, Enoh inspects The Save Sugar Company in Benin Republic
…Calls for immediate action
Joel Ajayi
January 14th, 2025, a day etched in the annals of Nigerian-Benin relations, Senator John Owan Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, Fed. Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment was in Cotonou to inspect the once-thriving sugar production facility.
Savé Sugar Company, a joint venture between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
On arrival in Cotonou,the Minister of State for Industry Sen. John Owan Enoh, paid a courtesy visit on his Benin Counterpart ,Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, Minister of Commerce and Industry Benin Republic, to express appreciation for the extra security measures put in place by the government of Benin Republic to secure the Savé Sugar Company which was Established in 1975.
The meeting between both ministers, brief yet significant, resonated with shared concerns and aspirations of both countries. Shadiya Alimatou Assouman remarked:
“This visit marks a historic moment. Since the inception of the company, no Nigerian minister has visited the facility. Your bold step signifies a commitment not only to the sugar complex but also to the bilateral relations between our nations.
” . Thereafter, the Minister of State proceeded on an on-site inspection of the facility and observed that the company has experienced changing fortunes and now lies almost decrepit with the last managers, _Compliant of China_ ,having vacated in May 2023,at the expiration of a twenty year lease agreement.
Unfortunately,the deteriorating situation with the _Savé Sugar Company Ltd_ predates the exit of the Chinese. A joint assessment visitation in 2021 was quite damning and recommended that Nigeria sell its equity holding in the company. This was declined by the Buhari administration, which instead preferred that upon expiration of the lease agreement with COMPLIANT, the two governments competitively source for new core investors.
Senator John Enoh, flanked by members of his team, meticulously examined the infrastructure, assessing its potential for revival.The Minister of State for Industry, after the inspection, remarked.
” Various meetings at both technical and policy levels have continued to be held , but away from these,action is needed.Seeing is believing is a common popular saying.
“This visit is an eye opener, and more than anything else, we seek its revival. The two countries, as a matter of urgency, need to get a worthy core investor within the shortest possible time.This is not just about sugar; it is about livelihoods, partnerships, and the shared future of our nations.
However, where that is not feasible, the recommendation of the 2021 joint assessment report which submits to the selling of our equity in the company will be brought to the table for possible consideration. Action starts today.”
Business
Clean Energy Transition Can’t Succeed Without Workers’ Rights – REAN
By Joel Ajayi
The Executive Secretary of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN), Dr. Tosin Akande, has emphasized that a successful clean energy transition is impossible if workers’ rights are neglected.
The energy transition refers to the shift from reliance on fossil fuels to renewable and cleaner energy sources for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
Dr. Akande issued this warning in her goodwill message at the public presentation of the Workers’ Charter of Demand and Stakeholders’ Engagement held on Thursday in Abuja.
She stressed the importance of worker inclusion in the clean energy transition, warning that ignoring labor rights could jeopardize the process.
“A clean energy transition cannot be successful if workers are neglected. We must create mechanisms for reskilling and upskilling, particularly for workers who have spent their careers in the fossil fuel industry,” she stated.
Dr. Akande also highlighted the renewable energy sector’s vast potential for job creation, emphasizing the need for strong policies to prevent unemployment and poor working conditions.
“Without strong policies, many workers could face job losses or poor working conditions,” she warned.
Her goodwill message reinforced the urgent need for collaboration among government, labor unions, and industry stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria’s transition to clean energy is both equitable and sustainable.
Dr. Akande commended Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Nigeria and its partners for their dedication to advocating labor rights amid Nigeria’s energy transition process.
The event, organized by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in collaboration with FES Nigeria, also marked the launch of the Justice Department Transition Project, which aims to ensure a just and sustainable shift to renewable energy.
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