Minister of State for Industry, John Owan-Enoh, during a visit to Dangote Sugar Refinery in Numan, Adamawa State.
The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported sugar, directing the Dangote Group to increase local production to 600,000 metric tonnes annually by 2030.
Minister of State for Industry, John Owan-Enoh, gave the directive during a visit to the Dangote Sugar Refinery in Numan, Adamawa State.
Nigeria currently consumes about 1.8 million metric tonnes of sugar yearly, far exceeding local output, a gap the government says must be urgently addressed.
The Minister said Dangote Sugar, as a key industry player, is expected to lead efforts to close the deficit by meeting the 600,000MT target within the timeline.
He noted that the push aligns with the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan, which aims to boost domestic production through backward integration.
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While commending ongoing expansion at the refinery, including increased processing capacity, he stressed the need to accelerate implementation.
The Minister also identified limited access to long-term financing as a major constraint and said government is exploring support options for operators.
Responding, Dangote Group Vice President, Olakunle Alake, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to meeting the 2030 production target.
The Federal Government says scaling up local sugar production is key to cutting imports, conserving foreign exchange, and strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.
By Oluwakemi Kindness
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