How we’re Pushing Greenfield Projects to Improve Sugar Production – NSDC Boss

The Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, has explained his plan to bring as many greenfield projects as possible on board as part of efforts to increase the country’s local sugar production and move the country closer to self-sufficiency.

He said the Council under his watch has intensified efforts to close the country’s domestic sugar production gap, with greenfield sugar projects emerging as a central pillar of this drive.

He disclosed this during an interactive session with selected journalists, where he provided updates on key interventions, including greenfield investments, the Sugarcane Outgrower Development Programme (SODP), and measures to address critical input constraints in the sector.

It would be recalled that last year the Council signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four greenfield sugar project promoters – Brent Sugar, Niger Foods, Legacy Sugar and UMZA -, describing the agreements as firm commitments backed by credible investors with the technical and financial capacity to deliver large-scale production.

“Greenfield sugar projects are absolutely central to closing Nigeria’s domestic sugar production gap. These MoUs are not symbolic; they reflect concrete investment decisions that will translate into real production outcomes,” he said.

According to him, the four projects are designed as fully integrated sugar estates, combining extensive sugarcane cultivation with modern processing facilities. When completed and fully operational, the projects are projected to add about 400,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually to Nigeria’s domestic output.

He noted that the projects are deliberately spread across the South-West, North-Central and North-East regions to harness Nigeria’s diverse agro-climatic advantages while ensuring broad-based economic benefits, including job creation, infrastructure development and growth of local enterprises.

“These investments are anchored in host communities and structured to operate sustainably, delivering long-term value to the sugar industry and the wider economy,” Bakrin added.

Providing an update on the GNAL Sugar project owned by the Lee Group, Mr. Bakrin confirmed that the greenfield investment in Taraba State is progressing steadily following extensive engagement between the promoters, NSDC and the state government.

He disclosed that multiple local government areas in the state have been identified as suitable for large-scale sugarcane cultivation and processing, with ongoing work on land access, site selection and overall project definition.

“The project has moved well beyond the stage of initial interest. Our approach is deliberately measured to ensure that all technical, environmental and social prerequisites are addressed early, guaranteeing long-term viability.”

Bakrin explained that Taraba State emerged as the preferred location after a rigorous nationwide assessment that considered land availability, water resources and agro-climatic suitability. He added that strong political will and institutional support from the Taraba State Government were decisive factors.

“When technical fundamentals align with government commitment and community engagement, the result is a location capable of sustaining a large-scale sugar investment over decades,” he said.

On concerns surrounding the availability of quality planting materials for greenfield sugar projects, Mr. Bakrin said NSDC has adopted a multi-layered strategy to address the challenge.

He revealed that the Council has established dedicated seedcane farms to support greenfield projects, creating a reliable local supply of quality planting materials while reducing dependence on imports.

In addition, NSDC, through the Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI), is deploying modern pre-sprouted bud set (bud chip) technology, which significantly improves planting efficiency and accelerates estate development.

“Bud chip technology allows us to multiply planting materials faster, reduce costs and cut between 12 and 18 months from the project development cycle,” he explained.

He noted that NSI is already scaling up capacity for large-scale bud chip propagation and integrating the technology into its research, training and extension programmes, resulting in improved field uniformity, better quality control and faster estate establishment.

Bakrin said the combined impact of seedcane farms and advanced planting technology provides a resilient and scalable system for supporting greenfield sugar projects nationwide.

He reaffirmed NSDC’s commitment to driving sustainable investments that will strengthen Nigeria’s domestic sugar industry, reduce import dependence and support the country’s broader industrialisation and food security objectives.