By KatsinaTimes | April 14, 2026
The Federal Government has set a target of producing 300,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually by 2030 as part of efforts to boost local production and reduce import dependence.
The Minister of State for Industry, John Owan-Enoh, disclosed this during a one-day working visit to the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate on Monday.
Owan-Enoh said the target would be achieved through the Backward Integration Policy (BIP) of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside incentives designed to encourage local manufacturing.
According to him, the policy aims to scale up domestic sugar production to meet national demand while reducing reliance on imports.
He explained that the government was supporting manufacturers through incentives such as duty-free importation of machinery and equipment, noting that the initiative was already yielding results, though not yet at the desired level.
The minister said the progress recorded at facilities like Sunti Sugar Estate demonstrated the impact of collaboration between government policies and private sector participation.
He added that the development had also contributed to job creation, with the estate employing about 4,500 workers at peak capacity.
Owan-Enoh expressed satisfaction with the production process and the growing capacity of local industries but acknowledged that output remained below expectations.
He identified limited land under sugarcane cultivation as a major constraint, stressing that expansion of cultivated land would be critical to achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production.
“We are not there yet, but there is commitment and a strong push by the government towards industrialisation,” he said.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Sunti Golden Sugar Estate, Boye Olusanya, said the company currently cultivates about 6,600 hectares, producing nearly 20,000 tonnes of sugar.
Olusanya disclosed that the company plans to scale up production to about 290,000 tonnes by 2031, but called for policy consistency and improved access to funding to achieve the target.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to supporting industrial growth through fiscal incentives and strategic policies aimed at strengthening the country’s manufacturing base.
(NAN)
