Niger Foods Partnerith Nigeria Sugar Council To Revive Industry

Niger Foods, in partnership with the Nigeria Sugar Development Council, has initiated bold steps to revive Nigeria’s $2.5 billion sugar industry.

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the Niger State Governor on Digital Media and Strategy, Abdullberqy Usman Ebbo, during a media chat in his office.

He stated that the initiative represents a significant step toward promoting food security and rural industrialization in Nigeria. He further emphasized that it will boost agricultural production and improve the economy for all Nigerians.

Abdullberqy Usman Ebbo revealed that during a side event at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Niger Foods signed a partnership deal with Uttam Sucrotech, a consortium of leading sugar value chain experts from Brazil and India.

The agreement includes developing 250,000 hectares of sugarcane fields and establishing six sugar and ethanol plants in Niger State over the next three years.

According to him, the Niger Farms project, which will utilize approximately 90,000 hectares of land near the recently inaugurated Sokoto–Lagos Superhighway, aims to produce 2.5 million metric tons of sugar, 250 million liters of ethanol, and generate 300 megawatts of electricity.

He further noted that the project is expected to create 100,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect jobs, while also benefiting 750,000 out-grower participants.

The Special Adviser mentioned that the state Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for launching this transformative initiative for Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

Ebbo highlighted the governor’s remarks, emphasizing that the superhighways passing through Niger State will unlock access to 90,000 hectares of arable land, which will play a key role in the sugar project.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tugga, commended the Niger State Government for its private-sector-driven approach to agricultural development. He also praised the strategic decision to partner with leading sugar producers from Brazil, known for large-scale cultivation, and India, renowned for structured small-scale out-grower programs.

In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security expressed the Ministry’s support for Niger State’s quest for large-scale mechanized and integrated agriculture. He also lauded the emphasis on research and innovation in developing the sugar value chain.

The Minister added that the sugar initiative would catalyze a vibrant livestock industry in Niger State, while the mixed cropping of sugarcane with soybean would significantly boost foreign earnings.

It is worth noting that Nigeria, Brazil, and India were among the pioneers of sugarcane cultivation in the 1960s.

However, according to the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Sugar Development Council, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, Nigeria’s sugar industry has stagnated, with less than 20,000 hectares currently under cultivation. This produces approximately 540,000 metric tons—only about 3% of Nigeria’s current sugar demand. In contrast, Brazil produces 41 million metric tons, and India produces 36 million metric tons annually.

Olusola Akintonde