By Ayomide Otitoju
The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has announced that it has secured new investment deals with industry operators and is calling on members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and other potential investors to explore opportunities in the nation’s sugar sector.
NSDC Executive Secretary, Kamar Bakrin, made the appeal on Tuesday while receiving AFAN members on a courtesy visit, stressing that expanding local sugar production is both a strategic economic priority and a profitable venture with strong government backing.
“This is the right time to invest. The Nigerian sugar market is valued at over $2 billion, Africa’s at $7 billion, and the continental deficit is projected to hit 13 million tonnes by 2030. The market for sugar by-products alone is worth $10 billion,” Bakrin said.
He noted that Nigeria’s consumption trends, foreign exchange realities, and global supply chain disruptions have made domestic production more competitive than imports. Following a viability assessment, the NSDC has identified 150,000 hectares of suitable land for sugarcane cultivation in secure areas with favourable climate, water availability, and community support.
The Council’s investment strategy is anchored on four factors: attractive market opportunities, operational feasibility, sound economics, and sustainable, future-ready business models.
Under its commercial outgrower initiative, the NSDC aims to bring 50,000 hectares into production by partnering with farmers managing 50–200 hectares near sugar estates in Numan, Bacita, Sunti, and Lafiagi.
To reduce investment risks, incentives under the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan II (NSMP II) include access to the Nigeria Sugar Industry Development Fund (NSIDF), reduced equipment import tariffs, a five-year tax holiday, a 30% tax credit on infrastructure, facilitated land clearing and leasing, seed and input support, mechanisation assistance, technical expertise from the Nigerian Sugar Institute, and guaranteed offtake agreements.
“We are not just inviting investors; we are providing the tools, capital, and partnerships to ensure they succeed,” Bakrin said, highlighting opportunities in ethanol, animal feed, biogas, bioelectricity, and bioplastics.
He added that with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework and supportive policies, Nigeria is well positioned to become Africa’s cost leader in sugar production.
