Nigeria is focused on annual sugar manufacturing of greater than 2 million metric tonnes thru 13 present and proposed sugar initiatives around the nation.
The Government Secretary of the Nationwide Sugar Construction Council (NSDC), Kamar Bakrin, disclosed this at a information convention organised by way of the Trade and Trade Correspondents Affiliation of Nigeria (CICAN) in Abuja.
Bakrin mentioned the initiatives include 3 present operators and 10 proposed new sugar estates throughout 8 states, with the blended capability anticipated to exceed the rustic’s annual sugar intake of about 1.8 million metric tonnes.
He added that Nigeria’s two running sugar turbines produced about 27,000 tonnes of sugar within the earlier season, whilst greater than 97% of the rustic’s sugar intake was once met thru refining imported uncooked sugar.
Present operators account for 1.2 million tonnes
In line with Bakrin, the 3 present operators are focused on blended annual manufacturing of one.2 million metric tonnes, whilst the ten proposed initiatives are anticipated to give a contribution some other 835,000 tonnes at complete capability.
- “In combination, for those who have a look at it, we’re speaking about 13 initiatives, the 3 incumbents plus 10 new initiatives. They are going to take Nigeria previous the 2 million metric tonnes that we’re speaking about,” he mentioned.
The council has additionally validated 1.2 million hectares of land regarded as appropriate for sugar manufacturing, in comparison with the estimated 250,000 hectares required for Nigeria to succeed in self-sufficiency.
Bakrin mentioned the proposed estates would produce sugar, ethanol and electrical energy to diversify income streams and give a boost to the industrial viability of the initiatives.
Outgrower programme objectives 11,000 hectares
The NSDC may be focused on 11,000 hectares of farmer-grown sugarcane beneath its Sugarcane Outgrower Construction Programme, which is designed to enhance manufacturing round present sugar turbines.
- The programme is anticipated to supply about 880,000 tonnes of sugarcane every year, with 7,000 hectares already recognized with companions in Kwara, Niger and Adamawa states.
- Bakrin mentioned financial reforms had modified the associated fee dynamics between uploading sugar and generating it in the community, bettering the economics of home manufacturing.
- In line with the manager secretary, the Sugarcane Outgrower Construction Programme is anticipated to save lots of Nigeria about $2.1 billion every year in foreign currencies when totally carried out.
He added that the programme would create about 110,000 direct and oblique jobs and enhance a couple of million livelihoods around the sugar price chain.
Nigeria’s push for sugar self-sufficiency
The most recent manufacturing goal builds on different government-backed efforts to enlarge Nigeria’s home sugar business and cut back dependence on imports.
Nairametrics additionally reported in August 2025 that the NSDC had signed agreements with four operators to develop sugar estates with a combined projected annual production capacity of 400,000 metric tonnes.