Nigeria Governors’ forum prioritises sugar projects to drive industrial growth, self-sufficiency 

NIGERIA – The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has agreed to prioritise sugar as a key commodity to accelerate industrial development across states, following engagements with the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC). 

According to a statement issued by the NSDC on Sunday, the Forum also approved proposals to include sugar projects as priority beneficiaries in engagements with development partners within and outside Nigeria.  

The decisions followed a request by the Council to halt raw sugar imports, expand domestic production, create jobs, and achieve national self-sufficiency in sugar. 

Under the agreement, the NGF and NSDC will collaborate to support state governments in developing investor-ready sugar projects.  

The partnership will focus on facilitating structured engagement between states, investors, and industry operators, while improving coordination around land access, infrastructure development, and incentive frameworks. 

Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NSDC, Kamar Bakrin, presented the sector’s investment opportunities to NGF officials, urging states to harness the growing potential of Nigeria’s sugar industry, which he said is currently valued at about US$2 billion. 

Bakrin identified 11 states with suitable land for profitable sugar production: Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Adamawa, and Taraba. 

“While global sugar prices have remained relatively stable in dollar terms, exchange rate movements have made imports significantly more expensive, thereby enhancing the commercial viability of domestically produced sugar, whose inputs are largely naira-denominated,” he said. 

He added that Nigeria has strong operational fundamentals for sugar production, noting that around 1.2 million hectares of prime land are suitable for large-scale sugarcane cultivation, even though only about 200,000 hectares are required to achieve self-sufficiency. 

“Critical factors have created an opportunity to invest in Nigeria’s sugarcane growing and processing industry,” Bakrin said.  

He added that “the sector is now worth US$2 billion, while with the aid of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, it is worth US$7 billion on the continent. The market for sugar by-products alone is worth US$10 billion in Nigeria.” 

Also speaking, the Director-General of the NGF, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, said many state governments are already engaged, or keen to engage, in sugar-related investments spanning land development, agricultural schemes, and agro-industrial initiatives. 

He noted, however, that unlocking these opportunities requires effective coordination, credible investment frameworks, and strong alignment between federal policy objectives and state-level development priorities. 

Shittu pledged the commitment of the NGF secretariat to ensure state development strategies increasingly focus on sugar projects, recognising their potential to drive rural development and create sustainable employment. 

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.