From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has signed agreements with four operators to develop greenfield sugar projects that will collectively produce 400,000 tonnes annually, in what officials describe as a major step towards cutting Nigeria’s heavy sugar import bill and achieving self-sufficiency.
According to a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, each operator will establish a 100,000-tonne capacity facility in Nigeria’s agricultural belt: Brent Sugar in Oyo State, Niger Foods in Niger State, Legacy Sugar in Adamawa State, and UMZA in Bauchi State.
The spread from the southwest to the northeast is designed to harness diverse agricultural conditions and spread economic gains across regions.
The deals, signed at NSDC headquarters, mark a scaling-up of Nigeria’s sugar ambitions. Under the terms, the council will provide tailored project development support and cover key service costs to ensure commercial viability.
This push follows a recent memorandum of understanding with a Chinese firm for engineering, procurement, construction, and financing of up to five sugar estates, representing a $1 billion investment.
The partnership reflects Nigeria’s readiness to combine foreign capital and expertise with domestic policy incentives to fast-track capacity.
Nigeria currently imports most of its sugar, draining foreign exchange and worsening trade deficits. Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSDC, Kamar Bakrin, has designated 2025 as a year of “accelerated development” for sugar projects, citing global market shifts that make local production more attractive than ever.
Beyond production targets, the new facilities are expected to generate rural jobs, expand infrastructure, and stimulate upstream and downstream industries.
The projects also align with Nigeria’s industrial policy under President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises import substitution and local value addition, and could position the country as a West African sugar hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
