Nigeria’s National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has signed agreements with four operators to develop greenfield sugar projects expected to add a combined 400,000 tonnes to the country’s annual sugar output. The move marks a major step in the government’s push to cut the nation’s sugar import bill and achieve self-sufficiency.
Under the new deals, each operator will build a 100,000-tonne capacity facility in different parts of the country — Brent Sugar in Oyo State, Niger Foods in Niger State, Legacy Sugar in Adamawa State, and UMZA in Bauchi State. The geographic spread, from the southwest to the northeast, is designed to harness diverse agricultural conditions and distribute economic benefits across multiple regions.
The NSDC will provide tailored project development support and cover certain critical service costs to help ensure commercial viability. The agreements are part of an accelerated development strategy for 2025, as the council seeks to tackle food security concerns, reduce import dependence, and improve Nigeria’s trade balance.
This latest phase builds on earlier progress, including a $1 billion memorandum of understanding signed with a Chinese firm for engineering, procurement, construction, and financing of up to five sugar estates. The Chinese partnership reflects Nigeria’s openness to leveraging foreign expertise and investment to scale domestic capacity.
While the projects are expected to generate rural jobs, improve infrastructure, and create opportunities along the sugar value chain, the sector faces familiar challenges. Past efforts have been slowed by infrastructure gaps, financing hurdles, and competition from subsidised imports. The success of these ventures will depend on effective implementation by both the NSDC and the operators.
Nigeria’s sugar drive forms part of a broader industrial policy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which prioritises import substitution and local value addition in key sectors. If successful, the new facilities could not only meet more of the country’s sugar needs but also position Nigeria as a potential regional hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area, serving growing markets across West Africa.
