NSDC’s Kamar Bakrin says greenfield projects and outgrower programmes are key to Nigeria’s sugar self-sufficiency and economic growth

Kamar Bakrin, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), has said that Nigeria’s greenfield sugar projects and structured outgrower programmes are critical to achieving domestic sugar self-sufficiency.

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Speaking to Okechukwu Nnodim and select journalists in Abuja, Bakrin highlighted the role of recent Memoranda of Understanding signed with four project promoters.

Each project, he explained, combines large-scale sugarcane cultivation with modern processing facilities and is expected to add roughly 400,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually once fully operational.

The initiatives span the South-West, North-Central, and North-East regions, ensuring broad-based economic benefits, including job creation, infrastructure development, and enterprise growth.

Bakrin noted that GNAL Sugar, promoted by the Lee Group in Taraba State, is progressing steadily.

Taraba’s extensive land availability, reliable water resources, favourable agro-climatic conditions, and government support made it a prime choice for the project.

“We are taking a deliberate, structured approach to ensure long-term viability,” he said.

To support the greenfield projects, NSDC has established dedicated seedcane farms and deployed pre-sprouted bud chip technology via the Nigeria Sugar Institute.

This strategy shortens development cycles, reduces costs, and ensures a consistent supply of quality planting materials.

Bakrin emphasised that the Institute has been repositioned as a national centre of excellence, providing research, training, and technical support to all industry players.

The Sugarcane Outgrower Development Programme (SODP) has also attracted strong interest, Bakrin said.

The programme links farmers directly to licensed processors, offering guaranteed offtake, quality inputs, and technical support.

“This integrated approach reduces risk, boosts productivity, and builds confidence across the sugar value chain,” he added.

Bakrin further highlighted NSDC’s $1bn partnership with SINOMACH as a transformative investment for Nigeria’s sugar industry.

The deal is projected to bring 75,000 hectares under cultivation, produce up to 500,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually, and add 50,000 tonnes-per-day in factory processing capacity.

The initiative is designed to reduce imports, conserve foreign exchange, and create large-scale employment.

“Ambitions of this scale require discipline, sequencing, and rigorous execution,” Bakrin said.

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“We have laid the groundwork, aligned stakeholders, and established institutional coordination to ensure these projects transition decisively from planning to execution.”