The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has unveiled plans to prioritise sugar as a key driver of industrial development across the country, with a focus on boosting local production, creating jobs and reducing reliance on imported sugar.
The plan, being implemented in partnership with the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), was disclosed in a statement on Sunday, which noted that the NGF secretariat has agreed to include sugar projects as priority beneficiaries in its engagements with both local and international development partners.
The decision followed a request by the NSDC to fast-track the development of the sugar sector in line with efforts to achieve national self-sufficiency in sugar production and expand employment opportunities.
Speaking at a meeting with NGF officials, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NSDC, Kamar Bakrin, said the sugar sector presents significant investment potential and urged governors of states with suitable land to embrace sugar project development.
Bakrin identified 11 states with high sugarcane cultivation potential as Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Adamawa and Taraba.
He explained that recent macroeconomic changes have improved the commercial viability of domestic sugar production, noting that while global sugar prices have remained relatively stable in dollar terms, exchange rate fluctuations have made imports more expensive.
“With locally sourced inputs, Nigeria’s sugar industry now offers robust returns,” he said.
Bakrin added that Nigeria has about 1.2 million hectares of land suitable for large-scale sugarcane cultivation, far exceeding the estimated 200,000 hectares required to achieve national self-sufficiency.
He noted that sugarcane projects have the potential to empower host communities, promote inclusive development and support environmental sustainability.
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According to him, a model sugar project producing 100,000 metric tonnes annually would require an estimated investment of $250 million, with an internal rate of return of 24 per cent. He added that such projects also generate valuable by-products, including ethanol and bio-electricity, which further enhance profitability and sustainability.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the NGF, Abdulateef Shittu, said several state governments were already exploring sugar-related investments covering land development, agricultural schemes and agro-industrial projects.
Shittu stressed the need for effective coordination, credible investment frameworks and alignment with federal policy objectives to scale the opportunities in the sector.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the NGF secretariat to supporting state-level development priorities that leverage sugar projects for rural development and job creation.