By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Federal Government is planning more greenfield sugar projects across the country to boost local production and move Nigeria closer to sugar self-sufficiency, the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has said.
The Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, said the move is aimed at closing the country’s domestic sugar production gap, with greenfield investments forming a core part of the strategy.
Speaking in Abuja, Bakrin said the NSDC last year signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four greenfield project promoters — Brent Sugar, Niger Foods, Legacy Sugar and UMZA — backed by investors with the technical and financial capacity to deliver large-scale production.
According to him, the projects, designed as fully integrated sugar estates combining sugarcane cultivation and modern processing facilities, are expected to add about 400,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually when fully operational.
He said the projects are spread across the South-West, North-Central and North-East to leverage agro-climatic advantages and ensure broad-based economic benefits, including job creation, infrastructure development and local enterprise growth.
Bakrin also gave an update on the GNAL Sugar project owned by the Lee Group in Taraba State, noting that the greenfield investment is progressing following engagements with the NSDC and the state government.
He said several local government areas have been identified for large-scale sugarcane cultivation, with work ongoing on land access, site selection and project definition.
On the availability of quality planting materials, Bakrin said the NSDC has adopted a multi-layered approach, including the establishment of dedicated seedcane farms to support greenfield projects and reduce dependence on imports.
