By Katsina Times
The Federal Government has tasked Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) to achieve an annual production capacity of 600,000 metric tonnes of sugar by 2030 as part of efforts to boost local output and reduce import dependence.
The Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, gave the directive during an inspection visit to the company’s facility in Numan, Adamawa State.
Enoh, who was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr Kamar Bakrin, said the visit was part of ongoing nationwide inspections of sugar projects in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to fast-track Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in sugar production.
He noted that Nigeria’s annual sugar consumption currently stands at about 1.8 million metric tonnes, significantly higher than local production levels, stressing that major industry players like Dangote Sugar must play a key role in bridging the gap.
“DSR is a major operator in the sector, and the success of the industry will largely depend on its performance. The company is expected to deliver at least 600,000 metric tonnes annually by 2030 and sustain the output thereafter,” he said.
The minister commended the NSDC for its efforts in implementing the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), emphasising the importance of sustained collaboration among stakeholders to achieve national targets.
He described the scale of investment and infrastructure at the Numan facility as a demonstration of commitment to the Backward Integration Programme but stressed the need to accelerate progress.
Enoh also acknowledged challenges facing operators, including access to affordable long-term financing, assuring that the Federal Government would work with stakeholders to address such constraints.
He added that increasing local production would not only reduce reliance on imports but also create jobs and enhance value addition through domestic sugarcane processing.
In his remarks, the Vice President of Dangote Group, Mr Olakunle Alake, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding its production capacity to meet the 600,000 metric tonnes target by 2030.
During the visit, the minister and his delegation inspected the company’s new 6,000 tonnes-per-day factory expansion project, as well as its harvest fields, mills, processing units, haulage systems, boilers, turbines, and sugar packaging facilities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government recently launched the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan to drive self-sufficiency, reduce sugar imports, and close the gap between local production and national consumption estimated at 1.8 million metric tonnes annually.
