Nigeria needs about $7.1 billion over 10 years to become self-sufficient in sugar, the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) said at a news conference in Abuja organised by the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Nairametrics reported on October 11, 2026.
Nigeria consumes about 1.8 million tonnes of sugar a year, with more than 97% of its refined sugar produced from imported raw sugar, The Guardian reported. The plan aims to lift annual output above 2 million tonnes, save about $2.1 billion a year in foreign exchange and create 110,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Ten New Estates in Eight States
The plan relies on 10 greenfield estates on 143,478 hectares of secured land in Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Nasarawa and Adamawa states. At full capacity, they are expected to produce about 835,000 tonnes a year, while existing operators target about 1.22 million tonnes, The Guardian reported. The new projects would process 55,500 tonnes of cane a day, The Whistler reported.
An outgrower scheme targets 11,000 hectares of farmer-grown cane, of which 7,000 hectares have been identified with partners in Kwara, Niger and Adamawa. Cultivation of the first 1,320 hectares is expected next year. The council has established 222 hectares of seed-cane farms, with 122 more hectares planned for the 2026/2027 season, and trained 95 professionals in 2026, Food Business MEA reported. Bakrin said the 10 proposed greenfield projects have advanced beyond the planning stage, according to The Whistler.
How It Will Be Funded
NSDC Executive Secretary Kamar Bakrin said about $5 billion would come from long-term debt: $3 billion from export credit agencies, $1.75 billion from development finance institutions and $250 million from local development finance sources, Nairametrics reported. Project promoters and operators would provide $2.1 billion in equity.
"Commercial loans cannot finance this sugar sector," Bakrin said, according to Nairametrics. "About $1 billion has been signed with Sinomach," he added, referring to an engineering, procurement, construction and financing agreement with the Chinese company. The NSDC is also working with the Bank of Industry on a ₦10 billion Sugar Project Acceleration Fund to pay for feasibility studies and make projects bankable. Sinomach's funding is expected after financial close, Food Business MEA reported.
The plan is the latest in a series of attempts to grow local sugar output. "Targets have come and gone," Bakrin said, according to Food Business MEA.
FoodPrices Nigeria tracks staple food prices across Lagos markets. Sugar is a major input for bakers, beverage makers and food processors, so local supply that cuts the import bill could ease costs across packaged foods.