The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) is urging farmers and investors to seize the opportunities in Nigeria’s sugar sector, driven by growing demand and supply gaps. According to Kamar Bakrin, Executive Secretary of NSDC, the Nigerian sugar market is valued at over $2 billion, while Africa’s market is worth $7 billion.
Bakrin emphasised that boosting local sugar production is a strategic economic move and a profitable venture backed by strong government support. “The continental deficit will rise to 13 million tonnes in 2030 due to rising demand and supply gaps,” he warned.
To support investors, NSDC has secured 150,000 hectares of land suitable for sugarcane cultivation and aims to put 50,000 hectares through a commercial outgrower initiative. The Council is offering incentives, including access to the Nigeria Sugar Industry Development Fund, equipment import tariffs, a five-year tax holiday, and guaranteed offtake agreements.
“We are not just inviting investors; we are providing the tools, capital, and partnerships to ensure they succeed,” Bakrin stressed. The Council is also promoting opportunities for by-product development, such as ethanol, animal feed, biogas, bioelectricity, and bioplastics.
With the African Continental Free Trade Area, Nigeria could emerge as Africa’s cost leader in sugar production, leveraging preferential access and policy backing. The NSDC believes that local production can meet the country’s sugar needs and potentially become a major player in the regional market.
