{
  "id": 13717834,
  "title": "Nigeria targets over 2 million tonnes of annual sugar production through 13 projects",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/nigeria-targets-over-2-million-tonnes-of-annual-sugar-production",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-11T12:44:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Nairametrics",
    "slug": "nairametrics",
    "url": "https://nairametrics.com/2026/10/11/nigeria-targets-over-2-million-tonnes-of-annual-sugar-production-through-13-projects/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nigeria aims to reach an annual sugar production of over 2 million metric tonnes through 13 sugar projects, both existing and proposed. Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Kamar Bakrin, announced this during a news conference in Abuja. The projects involve three existing sugar operators and 10 proposed new sugar estates located across eight states. The combined capacity of these projects is projected to surpass Nigeria's annual sugar consumption of approximately 1.8 million metric tonnes.\n\nThe two currently operating sugar mills in Nigeria produced around 27,000 tonnes of sugar in the previous season. Meanwhile, more than 97% of the country's sugar needs are currently met through the refining of imported raw sugar. According to Bakrin, the three existing operators target a combined annual production of 1.2 million metric tonnes, while the 10 proposed projects would contribute an additional 835,000 tonnes at full capacity once operational.\n\nThe NSDC has also validated 1.2 million hectares of land deemed suitable for sugar production, compared to the estimated 250,000 hectares required for Nigeria to become self-sufficient. The proposed sugar estates would produce sugar, ethanol, and electricity, diversifying revenue streams and improving the commercial viability of these projects. The NSDC is targeting 11,000 hectares of sugarcane grown by farmers under its Sugarcane Outgrower Development Programme. This initiative aims to support production around existing sugar mills, create approximately 110,000 direct and indirect jobs, and benefit over one million livelihoods within the sugar value chain. The target production figures build upon other government-backed efforts to boost Nigeria's domestic sugar industry and lower reliance on imports. In August 2025, Nairametrics reported that the NSDC had signed agreements with four operators to develop sugar estates with a combined annual production capacity of 400,000 metric tonnes.",
  "summary": "Nigeria is targeting annual sugar production of more than 2 million metric tonnes through 13 existing and proposed sugar projects across the country. The post Nigeria targets over 2 million tonnes of annual sugar production through 13 projects appeared first on Nairametrics .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}