The Federal Government has intensified pressure on key industry players to accelerate Nigeria’s drive toward sugar self-sufficiency, setting a 600,000 metric tonnes production benchmark for the Dangote Sugar Refinery by 2030 as part of efforts to bridge the country’s widening supply gap.
The directive was issued during an inspection visit to the Dangote Sugar complex in Numan, Adamawa State, led by the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, alongside the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin.
Nigeria currently consumes about 1.8 million metric tonnes of sugar annually, far above its domestic production capacity, prompting renewed government emphasis on expanding local output under the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) and the backward integration programme.
Senator Enoh said the 600,000MT target is critical to repositioning the sector and reducing reliance on imports, stressing that as one of the leading operators, Dangote Sugar must drive a significant share of national production growth.
He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly emphasised the urgency of transforming the sugar industry, adding that government expects measurable progress within the NSMP framework, now over a decade in implementation.
The Minister commended ongoing expansion efforts at the Numan facility, including the 6,000 tonnes-per-day (TCD) plant development, describing them as evidence of strong private-sector commitment to industrial growth.
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He also highlighted persistent challenges in the sector, particularly access to affordable long-term financing, noting that the government is exploring options to support operators with “patient capital” needed for large-scale agro-industrial investments.
“We are aware that there are issues that remain nagging… one of those issues has to do with affordable long-term finance,” Enoh said, while assuring that the government would continue to work with investors to remove bottlenecks slowing production expansion.
Responding, the Vice President of the Dangote Group, Mr. Olakunle Alake, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to scaling up production capacity and meeting the 600,000 metric tonnes target by 2030.
During the visit, the federal delegation inspected key sections of the facility, including the expansion site, harvest fields, haulage operations, milling units, boilers, turbines, evaporators, and the sugar packaging warehouse.
Officials described the Numan investment as a key pillar of Nigeria’s backward integration strategy aimed at reducing import dependence, boosting local production, and strengthening agro-industrial value chains.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
