The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has announced it has sealed investment deals with industry operators and is urging members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and other potential investors to seize emerging opportunities in the nation’s sugar sector.
Executive Secretary of the NSDC, Kamar Bakrin, made the call on Tuesday while receiving AFAN members on a courtesy visit, stressing that expanding local sugar production is both a strategic economic priority and a highly profitable venture backed by strong government support.
“This is the right time to invest. The Nigerian sugar market is currently valued at over $2 billion, Africa’s at $7 billion, and the continental deficit will rise to 13 million tonnes in 2030 due to rising demand and supply gaps. The market for sugar by-products is worth $10 billion,” Bakrin said.
He explained that Nigeria’s consumption patterns, foreign exchange realities, and global supply chain uncertainties have made domestic production more competitive than imports.
Following a viability assessment, NSDC said it has secured 150,000 hectares of land suitable for sugarcane cultivation in secure areas with favourable climate, water access, and strong community support.
Bakrin highlighted four key factors driving the sector’s investment potential: attractive markets, operational feasibility, solid economic fundamentals, and sustainable, future-proof business models.
The Council aims to roll out a commercial outgrower initiative covering 50,000 hectares, targeting farmers managing between 50 and 200 hectares near sugar estates in Numan, Bacita, Sunti, and Lafiagi.
To de-risk investments, incentives under the National Sugar Master Plan II (NSMP II) include access to the Nigeria Sugar Industry Development Fund (NSIDF), equipment import tariff concessions, a five-year tax holiday, 30% tax credit on infrastructure, land clearing and lease facilitation, seedling 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 stressed, noting additional by-product opportunities in ethanol, animal feed, biogas, bioelectricity, and bioplastics.
He added that, under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Nigeria could become Africa’s cost leader in sugar production, enjoying preferential market access and strong policy backing.
