Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Nigeria’s quest for sugar self-sufficiency is being driven by large-scale greenfield sugar projects coordinated by the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC). According to its Executive Secretary, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, recently signed Memoranda of Understanding with credible investors are expected to add about 400,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually through fully integrated cultivation and processing facilities across multiple regions. A flagship project promoted by the Lee Group in Taraba State is progressing steadily, benefiting from favourable agro-climatic conditions, available land, water resources, and strong state government support. To address input constraints, NSDC is strengthening seedcane availability through dedicated farms and advanced bud-chip technology deployed by the Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI). Institutional reforms at NSI have repositioned it as a national research and training hub. Complementary initiatives such as the Sugarcane Outgrower Development Programme and a $1 billion SINOMACH partnership further underscore Nigeria’s strategic push toward industrial growth, job creation, and reduced sugar imports.