Federal Government Pushes Sugar Sector Reform With Inspections

The federal government is accelerating reforms in Nigeria’s sugar industry, with Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, inspecting key projects to fast-track self-sufficiency. The first stop was the Lafiagi Sugar Company (LASUCO) in Kwara State, part of a presidential directive to move operators from planning to full production.

During the visit, Senator Enoh reviewed LASUCO’s integrated operations, including its sugar mill, ethanol plant, power infrastructure, irrigation systems, and 700 hectares of sugarcane cultivation. Owned by the BUA Group, the facility is designed to process 10,000 tonnes of cane per day, producing up to 220,000 metric tonnes of refined sugar annually at full capacity.

“The scale of investment and infrastructure here shows real commitment to the Backward Integration Programme,” Enoh said, commending NSDC executive secretary Kamar Bakrin, for his oversight of BIP operators.

The minister emphasised the urgent need for expanded sugarcane cultivation to match factory capacity, noting that “farm expansion is critical to achieving full operational readiness.”

Reaffirming the government’s engagement with investors, communities, and traditional institutions, Enoh said the reforms aim to conserve foreign exchange, create jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial value chains.