Investment Opportunities
Nigeria’s sugar sector transformation requires substantial investment – estimated at $4.5 billion to achieve the NSMP’s ambitious goals of 2 million MT annual production and cultivate 250,000 hectares.
There are over
1.2 million Hectares
of Sugarcane-Suitable Land across the Country
For Investors : Find Your Ideal Investment Entry Point
The NSDC welcomes credible investors across various scales and structures, offering distinct pathways to participate in this growth story. These opportunities are aligned with the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), a comprehensive strategy to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production.
Commercial Farming Programme
Become a Commercial Sugarcane Farmer: Earn Profitable Returns
Grow your wealth by participating in Nigeria’s Sugar Revolution and earn profitable returns from the NSDC Commercial sugarcane farming programme
This programme is available to
-
Individual Farmers / Friends
willing to jointly farm clusters of 30+ hectares
-
Cooperatives
willing to farm clusters of 30+ hectares
-
Agrobusiness owners
able to cultivate 50 to 500+ hectares of sugarcane farm
Eligibility Criteria
Category 1: Individual Farmers (minimum of 3 hectares)
Interested individual farmers must provide:
- National Identification Document (International Passport, National Identity Number (NIN), Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), Driver’s License etc.)
- Verifiable proof of access to land (ownership or long-term lease) suitable for the proposed hectarage
- Demonstrate at least three years of experience in farming, with a proven track record of cultivating at least 5 hectares of land (documents or pictures will suffice)
- Provide farming records from the last farming cycle, including crops grown, yields, input usage and challenges faced
- A Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank indicating good financial standing
- All documents must be submitted with a cover letter providing a contact address, telephone number, and email address.
Category 2: Cooperatives (minimum of 30 hectares)
Interested cooperatives must provide:
- Evidence of Certificate of Registration issued by the relevant government body (e.g., CAC or State Cooperative Agency)
- Document including list of active executive committee/leadership structure with clear roles, responsibilities, and transparent decision-making processes.
- Proof of verifiable experience in agricultural production, with preference given to those that have engaged in sugarcane cultivation or other commercially viable crops
- Records of crop production in the last farming cycle, including crop types, hectarage, yields, irrigation techniques, and off-take arrangements
- Demonstrate financial capacity through a Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank indicating the cooperative’s financial capability to participate
- All documents must be submitted with a cover letter on the cooperative’s official letterhead, bearing the Registration Number, contact address, telephone number, and email address.
Category 3: Agro-Companies (50 – 500+ hectares)
Interested firms or organisations must provide:
- Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), including Forms CAC2 and CAC7 (or CAC 1.1).
- A Technical Proposal detailing the proposed approach for implementing the outgrower scheme, including methods for farming and yield improvement.
- A Company Profile providing an overview of the organisation and key staff, with relevant CVs attached.
- Demonstrate experience in commercial-scale crop production (minimum of 30 hectares) with at least three years of continuous experience in open-field cultivation
- Provide detailed cultivation records from the last farming cycle, including crops grown, hectarage, harvest data, irrigation techniques (if applicable), and input sourcing/financing approaches
- Details of off-take arrangements for crops cultivated over the last three years
- An organisational chart and profiles of the management team, along with a list of existing machinery, equipment, and partnerships that might add value to participation in the outgrower programme
- Evidence of a Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria indicating financial capability.
- The most recent full-year audited financial statement (FY2024 preferred) or the management account for the same year.
- All documents must be submitted with a cover letter on the company’s official letterhead, bearing the RC Number, contact address, telephone number, and email address.
Why is the NSDC doing this?
The goal of the commercial sugarcane outgrower programme by the NSDC is to scale up local sugarcane production. Specifically, the key objectives include:
-
Increase sugarcane production to meet the growing national demand for raw materials essential for sugar manufacturing.
-
Empower farmers and rural communities by providing smallholders and commercial farms with resources, training, and financial support to improve productivity.
-
Promote sustainable agricultural practices by implementing best practices in environmental conservation, efficient land use, and water management.
-
Enhance market access and price stability through guaranteed offtake agreements and fair pricing mechanisms, making sugarcane farming a profitable and sustainable business case.
Ready to Become a Commercial Sugarcane Farmer?
Contact the Nigeria Sugar Development Council to discuss how you can participate in the commercial outgrower programme to earn good returns and be a part of the sugar revolution in Nigeria
Contact Us
- 0707 353 6567, 0707 394 9998
- commercialoutgrowers@nsdc.gov.ng
- Sugar House, 10 Oro-ago Crescent, Off Mohammadu Buhari Way, Garki 2, Abuja 900104
Greenfield Projects Pipeline
Pioneering the Future: Build Sustainable Sugar Ecosystems from Scratch
For investors seeking to shape a project from its inception, Nigeria’s greenfield sugar opportunities offer immense potential.
These projects involve developing entirely new, integrated estates on carefully selected sites with ideal conditions for sugarcane cultivation and processing.
This allows for the implementation of the latest, most efficient technologies and sustainable practices right from the start.
Investment Ready Greenfield Projects
Illaj Sugar (Kaduna)
Developing 6,000 ha near River Gilma, targeting 3,000 TCD capacity. Backed by Illaj Holdings, experienced in agro-processing.
Project Details
Location
Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria
Water Source
River Gilma with year-round water availability
Est. Investment Required
$280 million initial investment
Land size
6,000 hectares with potential for expansion to 10,000 hectares
Factory Capacity
Initial capacity of 3,000 TCD, expandable to 5,000 TCD
Promoter
Illaj Holdings, with established success in rice and flour milling
UMZA Sugar (Bauchi)
Planned 10,000 ha near River Jamaare, initial 1,000 TCD capacity. Promoter UMZA brings experience from large-scale rice farming.
Project Details
Location
Bauchi State, Northeastern Nigeria
Water Source
River Jamaare with reliable flow rates
Est. Investment Required
$195 million for full development
Land size
10,000 hectares of prime agricultural land
Factory Capacity
Initial capacity of 1,000 TCD, scalable to 3,000 TCD
Promoter
UMZA Group, with strong track record in integrated agriculture
Brent Sugar (Oyo)
Planned 15,000 ha Ikiru Gorge Dam, with an initial 5,000 TCD capacity. Promoter Brent Group has been involved in the Agriculture Industry for over 10 Years in Southwest Nigeria
Project Details
Location
Ijio, Oyo state, Southwest, Nigeria
Water Source
Ikiru Gorge Dam
Est. Investment Required
$250 million for full development
Land size
15,000 hectares of prime agricultural land
Factory Capacity
Initial capacity of 5,000 TCD, scalable to 10,000 TCD
Promoter
Brent Sugar is a subsidiary of Brent Group, an indigenous entity with interests in the agricultural, healthcare, retail and pharmaceutical sectors
Land Bank
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Project Matching
Get in Touch
Contact Us
Partner with Nigeria to achieve sugar self-sufficiency, capitalize on a $12+ billion sugar and bio-product market, and drive sustainable growth.
- +234-913-177-8882
- contact@nsdc.gov.ng
- Sugar House, 10 Oro-ago Crescent, Off Mohammadu Buhari Way, Garki 2, Abuja 900104
Brownfield Projects
Scale with Speed: Invest in the Expansion of Nigeria's Sugar Champions
Investing in Brownfield projects means partnering with Nigeria’s most experienced sugar producers.
These companies have already navigated the complexities of establishing operations, building supply chains, and achieving market presence.
Your investment fuels the next stage of their growth under the National Sugar Master Plan’s Backward Integration Program (BIP), accelerating the journey towards self-sufficiency.
Brownfield Projects
Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR)
Nigeria’s largest sugar player, owning the expansive Savannah Sugar estate (Numan, Adamawa) and developing a massive site at Tunga, Nasarawa
$1.5 Billion
Indicative Investment Need
(Equity: $500M, Debt: $1B)
Expansion Vision
Significantly increasing land under cane and milling capacity to reach 720,000 MT annual sugar production
LASUCO Sugar Company (BUA Foods Plc)
West Africa’s second-largest refiner with facilities in Lagos & Port Harcourt. Actively developing the Lafiagi estate (Kwara)
$605 Million
Indicative Investment Need
(Equity: $180M, Debt: $425M)
Expansion Vision
Growing the Lafiagi estate and associated milling capacity for 295,000 MT annual sugar production
Golden Sugar Company (Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc)
Operates the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate (Niger State) and a 750,000 MT refinery in Lagos
$610 Million
Indicative Investment Need
(Equity: $183M, Debt: $427M)
Expansion Vision
Developing further land and increasing milling capacity for 300,000 MT annual sugar production
Bacita Sugar Company
Nigeria’s pioneering sugar estate (established 1961) located on highly fertile, well-watered land in Kwara
$260 Million
Indicative Investment Need
(Equity: $78M, Debt: $182M)
Expansion Vision
Bringing the estate back into full production, targeting 100,000 MT annually with a new 7,000 TCD factory
Get in Touch
Contact Us
Partner with Nigeria to achieve sugar self-sufficiency, capitalize on a $12+ billion sugar and bio-product market, and drive sustainable growth.
- +234-913-177-8882
- contact@nsdc.gov.ng
- Sugar House, 10 Oro-ago Crescent, Off Mohammadu Buhari Way, Garki 2, Abuja 900104
Investment Models
The NSDC welcomes credible investors across various scales and structures, offering distinct pathways to participate in this growth story. These opportunities are aligned with the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), a comprehensive strategy to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production.
Joint Venture
Partner with existing sugar companies or the NSDC to share resources, risks and returns.
- Reduced capital requirements
- Access to local expertise
- Shared operational risk
- Simplified regulatory navigation
Full Ownership
Establish and operate independent sugar operations with complete control.
- Total operational control
- Full profit retention
- Flexible business strategy
- Brand development opportunity
Public-Private Partnership
Collaborate with state governments to develop sugar estates on favorable terms.
- Facilitated land acquisition
- Infrastructure support
- Potential tax advantages
- Community inclusion
The Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP)
The Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) is Nigeria’s blueprint for revolutionizing its sugar industry. With the goal of reducing dependency on imported sugar, creating jobs, and boosting economic development, NSMP is setting the stage for a self-sufficient, sustainable, and thriving sugar sector.
1
NSMP Launch (2013)
The Nigerian Sugar Master Plan was launched to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production.
2
Phase 1 Review (2017 )
Initial implementation phase reviewed, with adjustments made to address challenges.
3
NSMP Extension (2023)
The Nigerian government extended the Sugar Master Plan for an additional 10 years to 2033.
4
Target Year (2033)
Nigeria aims to achieve complete self-sufficiency in sugar production by this date.
Market Data
Nigeria’s sugar market presents a compelling investment case based on strong local demand, limited domestic supply, and supportive policy environment.
1.8 million MT
Annual sugar consumption in Nigeria
+3.5% CAGR
35,000 MT
Avg annual sugar
production
< 3% of consumption
$2 billion
Nigerian
Market size
Sugar only
$7 billion
African
Market size
Sugar only
Beyond Sugar
Sugarcane processing yields much more than sugar.
Expanded By-Product Market is worth
These opportunities in high-value by-products and derivatives include biofuels, polymers, bio-plastics, animal feeds and electricity
Investment Incentives
Nigeria offers substantial incentives to support sugar industry investments, reducing costs and enhancing returns for qualified projects aligned with the National Sugar Master Plan.
Ready to Explore
Investment Opportunities?
Contact the Nigeria Sugar Development Council to discuss how you can participate in the profitable transformation of Nigeria’s sugar industry.