The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has agreed to prioritise sugar production as a strategic commodity to drive industrial development and job creation across states.
The decision followed proposals submitted by the National Sugar Development Council, which is pushing for reduced raw sugar imports, expanded local production, and full self-sufficiency in the sector. In a statement issued on Sunday, the council said the NGF also endorsed the inclusion of sugar projects as priority initiatives in discussions with local and international development partners.
Under the new collaboration framework, the NGF and NSDC will work together to support states in developing investor-ready sugar projects. This includes facilitating structured engagements between state governments, investors, and industry operators, as well as improving coordination around land access, infrastructure provision, and incentive frameworks.
Presenting the investment case to governors, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NSDC, Kamar Bakrin, urged states with suitable agro-ecological conditions to take advantage of emerging opportunities in sugar production. He identified Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Adamawa, and Taraba as states with viable land for large-scale sugarcane cultivation.
Bakrin said recent macroeconomic shifts have improved the competitiveness of locally produced sugar, as exchange rate movements have significantly increased the cost of imports while domestic production remains largely naira-based. According to him, Nigeria has about 1.2 million hectares of suitable land for sugarcane cultivation, far above the estimated 200,000 hectares required to achieve self-sufficiency.
He noted that the Nigerian sugar industry is currently valued at about $2bn, with continental opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement expanding the market to an estimated $7bn. He added that sugar by-products such as ethanol and bio-electricity represent an additional $10bn market locally.
Bakrin also stressed that sugar projects promote inclusive development through outgrower schemes and employment, integrating host communities into the value chain rather than displacing them.
Speaking on behalf of the NGF, Director-General Abdulateef Shittu said several states are already involved in sugar-related investments, while others are keen to participate. He noted that effective coordination and alignment between federal policies and state priorities would be critical to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
