House of Reps queries NSDC over import data

By Paul James, Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has queried the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) over discrepancies in its sugar importation data.

The Chairman of the panel, Hon. James Faleke, issued the query during a revenue monitoring exercise covering the 2023–2025 fiscal years, held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

The Executive Secretary of the NSDC, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, appeared before the lawmakers to provide an account of sugar importation volumes and revenue generation within the sector.

However, members of the committee questioned the accuracy of the council’s figures, suggesting that the data presented might not reflect the actual volume of sugar entering the country.

In his defense, Mr. Bakrin explained that the NSDC does not directly collect revenue from sugar imports.

He clarified that the Nigeria Customs Service is the body responsible for collecting the sugar levy at the ports and remitting those funds into the appropriate government accounts.

He further noted that the council's role is primarily regulatory and advisory; it recommends companies for import licenses based on their performance and compliance levels within the local processing sector.

Mr. Bakrin also informed the committee that the NSDC’s operational funding is derived from a portion of the sugar levy. These funds are released periodically by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, following the appropriations approved by the National Assembly.

Despite these explanations, the committee indicated a need for greater transparency to ensure that all sugar-related revenues are properly accounted for in the national budget.