ASHENEWS reports that Niger State, in partnership with the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to revive Nigeria’s sugar industry, in a bid to boost food security and rural industrialization.
Niger Foods—a private sector entity created by the Niger State Government signed the agreement with Uttam Sucrotech, a consortium of Brazilian and Indian sugar value chain experts during a side event at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The partnership will develop 250,000 hectares of sugarcane plantations and establish six sugar and ethanol plants in Niger State within three years.
The project is also expected to transform Nigeria’s sugar industry, which has lagged behind global peers.
According to NSDC Executive Secretary, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, while Nigeria currently cultivates less than 20,000 hectares and produces 540,000 metric tons of sugar annually (3% of its demand), Brazil and India produce 41 million metric tons and 36 million metric tons respectively.
The initiative will leverage the recently commissioned Sokoto–Lagos Super Highway, with 90,000 hectares of arable land along its corridor earmarked for sugarcane cultivation.
In addition, the project aims to produce 2.5 million metric tons of sugar, 250 million liters of ethanol, and 300 megawatts of electricity annually.
It is also projected to create 100,000 direct jobs, 250,000 indirect jobs, and support 750,000 outgrowers.
Speaking at the event, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar commended Niger State for its private-sector-driven approach and the strategic partnership with global leaders in sugar production.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari equally lauded the initiative’s potential to strengthen food security, boost foreign exchange earnings, and support livestock development through integrated farming.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, in his address thanked President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing infrastructural development like the Super Highways, which will open up vast agricultural opportunities.
Bago emphasized that this sugar project represents a major step toward socio-economic transformation in the state and across Nigeria.
