Nigeria's push toward self-sufficiency in sugar production could soon save the country $1 billion in foreign exchange annually and generate 110,000 direct jobs, largely in rural communities.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Sugar Development Council, Kamar Bakrin, disclosed this at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit during discussions on policy coordination for the non-alcoholic beverage sector, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Bakrin stated that economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu have made domestic sugar manufacturing more appealing to investors. He noted that the National Sugar Master Plan 2.0 is designed to move the nation away from import dependency and improve ordinary livelihoods through sustainable industrial growth.
According to the council, brownfield investors have pledged to produce 1.22 million tonnes of sugar each year by 2030, hitting the milestone two years earlier than the master plan's 2032 target. In addition, greenfield ventures are expected to deliver another 830,000 tonnes annually within the same timeframe.
The sugar chief explained that developing sugar estates also boosts community infrastructure, including the building of schools, clinics, access roads, and local electricity networks. However, he pointed out that sugar plantations take at least four years to reach full capacity, making stable government policies critical for sustaining private investment.
Bakrin called on beverage companies to partner with domestic producers through offtake agreements, outgrower initiatives, and direct investments under the Backward Integration Programme. He noted that when authorities protect demand and manufacturers commit to local supply, the entire value chain expands and jobs remain inside the country.
He also appealed for state industrial initiatives, including the Nigeria Industrial Policy Sectoral Competitiveness and Growth Initiative, to coordinate their work directly with the National Sugar Master Plan.
