The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has unveiled a pipeline of 10 greenfield sugar projects expected to deliver 835,000 metric tonnes (MT) of sugar annually at full capacity. The projects form a central part of the Council’s $7.1 billion, 10-year program to raise Nigeria’s annual sugar production beyond 2 million MT and save about $2.1 billion in foreign exchange every year.
NSDC Executive Secretary/CEO Kamar Bakrin disclosed this in a presentation to the new leadership of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), who paid him a courtesy visit. He outlined the Council’s strategy for achieving sugar self-sufficiency through expanded production, new investments, and improved productivity.
Inside the Greenfield Pipeline
The NSDC said the 10 greenfield projects have moved beyond concept, with the following already in place:
To ensure they meet bankable standards, all the projects are undergoing independent technical reviews.
Three Interventions Behind the 2 Million MT Target
The greenfield projects are one of three key interventions anchoring the program. The others are optimizing existing estates and accelerating the expansion of incumbent operators. Together, the three are designed to close the production gap as follows;
Existing estates: about 100,000 MT annually.
Combined, 13 projects are projected to produce more than 2 million MT of sugar yearly, above current domestic demand.
Farmers at the Heart of Cane Supply
The Council is also working with farmers around existing mills to increase cane supply, with 11,000 hectares targeted for farmer-grown sugarcane. So far, 7,000 hectares (64 percent of the target) have been identified with partners in Kwara, Niger, and Adamawa, The initiative is expected to supply 880,000 MT of cane to existing mills and produce about 88,000 MT of sugar annually.
Financing the Program
The 10-year program requires $7.1 billion, made up of $5 billion in debt and $2.1 billion in equity. The debt component is expected to come from:
Building the Skills and Seed Pipeline
To address the sector’s shortage of quality planting materials and technical expertise, the Council has strengthened the Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI), to provide training and extension services, planting materials and project evaluation and estate support.
Economic and Environmental Gains
Successful implementation will deliver benefits well beyond sugar production. The NSDC projects that domestic production of sugar and ethanol will:
The Council is moving from policy commitments to measurable implementation, with estate performance to be monitored physically and through satellite technology.
