The Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, has disclosed that plans are underway for additional greenfield sugar projects as part of efforts to scale up local sugar production and advance Nigeria’s drive toward self-sufficiency.
Bakrin said the council has intensified its interventions to close the country’s domestic sugar production gap, with greenfield sugar projects emerging as a central pillar of the strategy. He spoke in Abuja while providing updates on key initiatives being implemented by the council, including greenfield investments and the Sugarcane Outgrower Development Programme (SODP).
According to him, the interventions are designed to address critical input constraints that have continued to limit growth within the sugar sector.
“It would be recalled that last year the Council signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four greenfield sugar project promoters – Brent Sugar, Niger Foods, Legacy Sugar and UMZA,” Bakrin said, describing the agreements as firm commitments supported by credible investors with the technical and financial capacity to deliver large-scale sugar production.
He stressed that the greenfield approach remains vital to achieving meaningful expansion in domestic output and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported sugar.
“Greenfield sugar projects are absolutely central to closing Nigeria’s domestic sugar production gap. These MoUs are not symbolic; they reflect concrete investment decisions that will translate into real production outcomes,” he added.
Bakrin noted that alongside greenfield developments, the SODP is being strengthened to support smallholder farmers, improve cane supply and ensure sustainable growth across the sugar value chain.
