Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state, alongside business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, among other top personalities have reconciled Dangote Group and BUA group, whose dispute over sugar production and control has been making news headlines recently.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group and Abdul Samad Rabiu who is the chairman of the BUA Group, are both illustrious sons of Kano State and Africa’s industrial giants.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abba Anwar, the governor and other prominent individuals in Kano State, waded in to resolve the lingering conflict between the two Billionaires over the establishment of a Sugar plant by BUA.
The reconciliation meeting took place on Wednesday in Abuja.
Present at the reconciliation meeting are; the Kano Emirate, represented by Alhaji Aminu Dan-Agundi; Chairman of the Council of Kano Imams, Sheikh Muhammad Nasir-Adam; the Chief Imam of Sheikh Ahmadu Tijjani Friday Mosque, Kofar Mata; and the Chairman of NEPZA, Adamu Panda.
Also present at the meeting is the Minister for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Mr Niyi Adebayo.
The New Diplomat had reported that the acrimonious relationship between Dangote and Rabiu hit the rooftop over the establishment of a new sugar refinery plant by the latter.
Dangote had argued that the sugar refinery plant in Port Harcourt, Rivers State built and commissioned by BUA, would pose a threat to the local production of sugar in the country and help BUA monopolize the market, noting that the group has not met the Backward Integration Policy requisites of the federal government to be able to set up a sugar refinery.
However, Rabiu, in his response criticized the statement by Dangote, stating that the establishment of the refinery would make Nigerians pay lower prices for sugar. He also claimed Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC has been engaging in price-fixing and was not honestly engaged in any Backward Integration Programme as claimed.
However, the duo have now been reconciled, as they were seen laughing at each other at the meeting.
According to the statement, Dangote and BUA have agreed to work together in the development of the sugar business in Nigeria, adding that they would ensure there is supply of enough sugar to meet the demand of the country.
