The Executive Secretary and CEO of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, has underscored the critical role of greenfield sugar projects in closing Nigeria’s domestic production gap and driving the country toward sugar self-sufficiency.
Speaking to journalists, Bakrin highlighted that Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed with four major promoters signal strong commitments from investors with both the technical expertise and financial capacity to deliver fully integrated sugar operations.
Each project combines large-scale sugarcane cultivation with modern processing facilities. At full capacity, the four initiatives are expected to add approximately 400,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually. Their geographic spread across the South-West, North-Central, and North-East regions ensures Nigeria leverages diverse agro-climatic advantages while creating widespread economic benefits, including jobs, infrastructure, and enterprise growth.
GNAL Sugar in Taraba State
Bakrin provided an update on GNAL Sugar, promoted by the Lee Group in Taraba State. The project has moved beyond initial planning, with several local government areas identified for cultivation and processing. A measured approach is being taken to secure land access, site selection, and project definition, laying a solid foundation for long-term viability.
Taraba was chosen after a rigorous nationwide assessment. Factors such as extensive land, reliable water resources, favourable agro-climatic conditions, and strong government commitment positioned the state as a potential sugar production hub.
Supporting Local Inputs
To address challenges in planting material availability, NSDC has established dedicated seedcane farms and is deploying pre-sprouted bud set technology through the Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI). This approach accelerates multiplication of healthy planting materials, shortens development cycles by 12–18 months, lowers costs, and improves field uniformity.
NSI: The Technical Backbone
Bakrin clarified NSI’s role as the national research, training, and technical hub for the sugar industry. Since its commissioning in 2021, NSI has strengthened governance, upgraded laboratory protocols, and trained over 60 staff, positioning itself as a credible centre of excellence supporting Nigeria’s sugar competitiveness.
Sugarcane Outgrower Development Programme (SODP)
The SODP has generated strong interest from farmers and agribusinesses. It integrates farmers into the sugar value chain with guaranteed offtake arrangements, access to quality seedcane, inputs, and technical support. The programme is already in the implementation phase, fostering sustainable increases in domestic sugarcane supply.
$1 Billion SINOMACH Partnership
NSDC’s $1 billion investment partnership with SINOMACH marks a transformative milestone. The integrated engineering, procurement, construction, and financing framework will unlock production of up to 500,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually, expand cultivation to 75,000 hectares, and add 50,000 tonnes-per-day of processing capacity.
Bakrin emphasised that the initiative will reduce import dependence, conserve foreign exchange, create large-scale jobs, and position Nigeria on a credible path to sugar self-sufficiency. Early groundwork, including stakeholder alignment, land access, regulatory approvals, and community engagement, has already been completed, setting the stage for full-scale project execution.
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