The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has demanded more participation in Nigeria’s sugar industry. The call was made recently during a meeting with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).
The council’s Executive Secretary, Kamar Bakrin, urged farmers and investors to explore the sector, which he described as both promising and well-prepared for expansion. According to Bakrin, Nigeria’s sugar market is valued at more than two billion dollars, with demand steadily increasing. Across Africa, sugar consumption is expected to drive a production gap of up to 13 million tonnes by the end of the decade.
He noted that the sugar by-products market, which includes items like ethanol and animal feed, is worth an additional ten billion dollars. To position Nigeria as a major player in this space, the council said it has secured 150,000 hectares of land for sugarcane farming, citing that the areas were selected based on access to water, suitable climate conditions, security, and local community support.
A significant part of the council’s plan is a commercial outgrower scheme. This initiative will allocate 50,000 hectares to smaller farmers operating plots between 50 and 200 hectares. These farms will be located near existing sugar estates in places such as Numan, Bacita, Sunti, and Lafiagi.
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