National Sugar Development Council

The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) is a government agency operating under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment in Nigeria. It was established by Decree 88 of 1993, now an Act of the National Assembly, Act Cap. No. 78 LFN of 2004, Amended in 2015, to oversee and facilitate the development of the sugar industry, aiming for self-sufficiency in sugar production and fostering economic growth.

History
The NSDC's establishment aimed to rectify the lack of coordinated planning and supervision within Nigeria's sugar sub-sector. Before its formation, the country struggled to achieve adequate local sugar production, leading to over-reliance on imports, foreign exchange drainage, unemployment, and food insecurity. The creation of the NSDC and the subsequent development of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) in 2012, approved by the government in September 2012, underscored the commitment to revitalize the industry and diversify the nation's economy and revenue sources, focusing on the 10-year plan for sugar self-sufficiency from 2013 to 2023.

Functions
As per its enabling Act, the NSDC is tasked with advising the Federal Government on various matters regarding sugar production and consumption, regulating sugar activities in Nigeria, collecting and disseminating sugar-related information, administering the Sugar Industry Development Fund (SIDF), and representing Nigeria in international sugar organizations. It also liaises with other agencies and private partners to bolster the sugar industry's development in the country.

Structure
The NSDC is overseen by a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister of Finance and led by an Executive Secretary. The Board, composed of representatives from government and private sector stakeholders, formulates policies for NSDC's operations. The organization is subdivided into five directorates responsible for specific areas of the sugar industry's growth and development.

Achievements
NSDC's accomplishments since its inception include the development and implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan, sugar quota allocation based on performance, collection and disbursement of funds from the Sugar Industry Development Fund, infrastructure development, and international representation in various sugar-related forums.

Challenges
Challenges encountered by NSDC in achieving sugar self-sufficiency encompass inadequate funding, security issues in project locations, low awareness of locally produced sugar, high production costs, competition from substandard products, environmental factors affecting cultivation, policy inconsistency, and insufficient political will to execute the NSMP.