The Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, has urged members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and other potential investors to take advantage of the huge opportunities currently available in Nigeria’s sugar industry.
Bakrin made this appeal during a visit by a delegation of AFAN to the NSDC headquarters in Abuja, where he highlighted the sector’s profitability and national importance. He emphasized that the time is ripe for large-scale investment in sugar production, pointing out that the NSDC now has access to a land bank of 150,000 hectares suitable for sugarcane cultivation, all located in secure regions with favourable climate conditions, water access, and strong community backing.
“The Nigerian sugar market is valued at over $2 billion, while the African sugar market is worth around $7 billion. The market for sugar by-products alone is currently estimated at $10 billion,” Bakrin said. He noted that with rising regional demand and a projected continental deficit of 13 million tonnes by 2030, the industry is positioned for exponential growth.
He explained that local sugar production has become more viable due to macroeconomic realities. These include rising global supply chain disruptions, exchange rate pressures, and the rising cost of importing raw sugar. “Investing in sugar production today makes more sense than ever before,” he added.
Bakrin encouraged AFAN members to move beyond smallholder farming and explore commercial opportunities in the sugar industry. He called on them to embrace the commercial out-grower scheme, which links smaller farmers with large sugar processing companies, ensuring market access and fair pricing.
He explained that the NSDC has carried out detailed land viability studies and identified the 150,000 hectares of land as ideal for sugarcane growing. These locations, according to him, offer operational feasibility and strong economic potential for both local and export-focused production.
The NSDC boss listed four key reasons why sugar production is a smart investment today:
- Attractive Markets with high demand,
- Operational Feasibility backed by government infrastructure and support,
- Sound Economics due to reduced import competitiveness, and
- Sustainability, as sugarcane growing and processing is a future-proof business with opportunities for value addition.
“Producing sugar locally is not only a strategic economic decision but also a profitable business,” Bakrin said. “Nigeria’s consumption numbers show a high reliance on imports, and this must change.”
In response, Dr. Faruk Rabiu Mudi, President of AFAN, accepted the challenge and assured the Council that the Association would mobilise its members to take up the opportunity. He acknowledged that the country’s low sugar production compared to its consumption figures is worrisome, and said it was time for more farmers to enter the industry in a serious and structured way.
He noted that addressing the sugar production deficit should not be the responsibility of the NSDC alone, stressing the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders. Dr. Mudi added that AFAN members would be encouraged to participate more actively in the commercial out-grower schemes, which offer both employment opportunities and business growth for farmers.
The engagement between NSDC and AFAN is part of broader efforts by the federal government to drive the implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), which aims to make the country self-sufficient in sugar production. The plan includes incentives for investors, infrastructure support, and public-private partnerships to enhance production and reduce dependence on imports.
Industry experts have continued to warn that Nigeria’s overreliance on sugar imports poses serious risks to the economy. According to recent reports, Nigeria’s raw sugar imports are projected to rise by 12 percent, a trend the NSDC is working hard to reverse.
Bakrin’s call aligns with the federal government’s broader strategy of encouraging agricultural investment, reducing import bills, and creating jobs through agro-industrialisation.
As the sugar market continues to expand across the continent, stakeholders say Nigeria is well-positioned to not only meet its domestic demand but also become a regional hub for sugar production and processing—if the current momentum is maintained.
