Nigeria, China Collaborate on Sugarcane Cultivation, Processing for in-country Sufficiency

In a bid to boost Nigeria’s sugar production and achieve self-sufficiency, the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese conglomerate, SINOMACH, to jointly develop a large-scale sugarcane cultivation and processing project in Nigeria.

The agreement, which is expected to attract investments worth up to $1 billion, was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of NSDC, Kamar Bakrin, in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Abuja.

According to Mr. Bakrin, the initiative is one of the early outcomes of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership championed by President Bola Tinubu.

The project, which aims to construct a sugar processing plant and develop a sugarcane plantation, is expected to have an initial annual processing capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes, with a long-term target of one million metric tonnes.

Mr. Bakrin described the agreement as a strategic milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of self-sufficiency in sugar production.

“2025 is a pivotal year for Nigeria, and we must make bold moves towards food security and economic self-sufficiency.

“This partnership with SINOMACH is unique. It combines engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) with development financing—an essential model for agro-industrial transformation,” he said.

The project is expected to create thousands of jobs, stimulate rural infrastructure development, conserve foreign exchange, and serve as a model for Nigeria’s broader industrialisation efforts. Mr. Bakrin added that NSDC would provide all necessary support to ensure smooth project takeoff, including facilitating approvals, land acquisition, and other authorisations.

The Vice President of SINOMACH, Li Yu, commended Nigeria’s implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), calling it a “sweet revolution” tied to food sovereignty and economic dignity. “We believe this partnership will not only boost Nigeria’s sugar self-sufficiency but also promote rural development, create employment, and enhance agricultural modernisation,” he said.

Mr. Li added that SINOMACH was exploring RMB-based financing models to fund the project, which would help lower financing costs and speed up approvals in China. He expressed confidence that the chosen host state could eventually become the “Sugar Bowl of West Africa.”

The partnership between NSDC and SINOMACH is seen as a significant step towards achieving Nigeria’s goal of becoming self-sufficient in sugar production. The country currently imports a significant portion of its sugar, with the federal government aiming to reduce this dependence through the implementation of the NSMP.

The NSMP, which was launched in 2013, aims to increase Nigeria’s sugar production from 70,000 metric tonnes to 1.7 million metric tonnes by 2025. The plan also aims to create over 100,000 jobs and generate over $1 billion in revenue for the country.

The partnership with SINOMACH is expected to play a key role in achieving these goals, with the Chinese company bringing its expertise and resources to the table. SINOMACH is a leading Chinese conglomerate with interests in a range of sectors, including agriculture, construction, and manufacturing.

The project is expected to break ground in the coming months, with the first phase of the project expected to be completed within the next two years. The partnership between NSDC and SINOMACH is seen as a model for future collaborations between Nigeria and China, with the potential to drive economic growth and development in both countries.