Residents decry dwindling fortune of Lafiaji sugar refinery

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Members of Lafiagi community in the Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to see to the commencement of operations in the BUA Sugar Refinery sited in their community.

The residents expressed the concern that the sugar plant had gone moribund after it was taken over about 15 years ago by private operators, with its name changed from Lafiagi Sugar Company to BUA Sugar Refinery.

It urged the Buhari government to compel BUA Group of companies to immediately commence operations or relinquish the management of the sugar refinery.

A resident of Lafiagi, Mr. Saliu Musa, said the non-operation of the sugar refinery since it was taken over by BUA Group of companies had caused loss of employment among the residents.

According to him, no fewer than 500 members of the community, who were engaged by the refinery, had been disengaged following its takeover by the private operator.

Musa said, ‘’When the company was operational, old and young ones, no fewer than 500 were employed. The company was working very well then. But since the takeover by the new management, they have sent the staff away and most of them have resorted to doing any menial jobs available,” he said.

A youth leader in the community, Kayode Buraimah, said the youths and the entire community were disappointed that the private operator had abandoned the sugar plant, after taking over its management.
“We were happy when the company was sold to BUA, thinking it will be brought back to life. It’s unfortunate that since then, the company just abandoned the Sugar refinery which is contrary to terms and conditions upon which the Federal Government sold the company. We, the youths are jobless and yet we have an avenue for job here wasting away.

“We all submitted our CV, even recently to the Emir, as instructed, so that we can be employed but since then, it has been one story or the other.”

Source: Punch