The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has unveiled a $7.1 billion investment plan to increase Nigeria’s annual sugar production to more than two million metric tonnes within 10 years. The programme is also expected to save the country about $2.1 billion in foreign exchange annually by reducing dependence on imported sugar.
Kamar Bakrin, executive secretary and chief executive officer of the NSDC, disclosed the plan while receiving the leadership of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), which visited the council. According to a statement released on Sunday, the programme will require $5 billion in debt financing and $2.1 billion in equity investment. It will focus on improving existing sugar estates, expanding current producers and developing new sugar projects.
Bakrin said the initiative could create about 110,000 direct and indirect jobs, support more than one million livelihoods and increase the gross domestic product of host communities by over 100 per cent within 10 years. Under the plan, 10 new sugar estates are expected to produce approximately 835,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually when they reach full production capacity.
The projects have identified promoters and secured 143,478 hectares of land. Their combined planned processing capacity is 55,500 tonnes of sugarcane daily. Each estate is designed to produce sugar, ethanol and electricity. The council said the projects were undergoing independent technical reviews to establish their financial viability and attract the investment needed for development.
“Existing estates are projected to contribute about 100,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually, while incumbent operators are expected to produce about 1.22 million metric tonnes,” the CEO said. “Combined with the output from the 10 greenfield projects, national production is expected to exceed two million metric tonnes annually, above current domestic demand of about 1.8 million tonnes.”
To ensure a steady supply of raw materials, the council is also targeting 11,000 hectares of sugarcane cultivated by local farmers around existing processing mills.
“So far, 7,000 hectares, representing 64 per cent of the target, have been identified with partners in Kwara, Niger and Adamawa states,” he said. “The initiative is expected to supply about 880,000 metric tonnes of sugarcane to existing mills and generate approximately 88,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually.”
The council is also strengthening the Nigeria Sugar Institute to address shortages of technical expertise and quality planting materials. The institute will provide training, agricultural extension services, planting materials and technical support for project assessment and estate development. Beyond increasing production, the programme is expected to reduce annual emissions by about two million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The plan represents a major investment push in Nigeria’s sugar industry, with potential benefits for employment, local manufacturing and foreign exchange savings. However, achieving the production target will depend on securing the required funding, completing the proposed estates and expanding local sugarcane cultivation to supply processing facilities.
If successfully implemented, the programme could help Nigeria meet its domestic sugar demand through local production while creating economic opportunities for farmers, investors and communities hosting the projects.
