BUA Foods’ Integrated Sugar Project To Cut Import Dependence, Says FG

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing Nigeria’s reliance on sugar imports as BUA Foods Plc hosted the Minister of State for Industry, Dr John Owan Enoh, and officials of the Nigerian Sugar Development Council (NSDC) on an inspection tour of the Lafiagi Sugar Company Limited (LASUCO) project in Kwara State.

The visit, led by the Executive Secretary of the NSDC, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, was aimed at assessing progress on the sugar production facility, which is currently about 80 per cent completed, and evaluating its alignment with the Federal Government’s backward integration policy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

LASUCO is being developed as a fully integrated sugar production complex with the capacity to crush 10,000 tonnes of sugarcane daily, produce 220,000 metric tonnes of refined sugar annually, generate 35 megawatts of electricity from bagasse and process up to 20 million litres of industrial ethanol per year.

The project sits on approximately 20,000 hectares of land and includes sugarcane plantations, milling and refining facilities, an ethanol plant, irrigation systems, a power plant, housing estate, airstrip, as well as healthcare and educational facilities.

Speaking after the tour, Enoh commended the scale and quality of infrastructure at the site, describing the project as critical to Nigeria’s industrialisation and self-sufficiency drive.

He said the government would continue to work closely with BUA Foods and other stakeholders to ensure the timely completion of the facility.

“My understanding is that LASUCO is the largest greenfield sugar factory by any of the major operators, with a 10,000 tonnes-per-day cane crushing capacity at completion,” the minister said.

“There is clear commitment from the management of LASUCO, and we need to work together towards a definite completion date.”

Earlier, the minister and the BUA Foods delegation, led by the Group Executive Director of BUA Group, Alhaji Kabiru Rabiu, and the Managing Director of BUA Foods Plc, Engr. Ayodele Abioye, paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Lafiagi, His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu.

During the visit, Kabiru Rabiu disclosed that the Lafiagi project would become the largest integrated sugar plant in Nigeria upon completion, noting that it would combine sugar milling, refining, power generation and ethanol production within a single complex.

He acknowledged earlier delays but said construction had gained significant momentum, with plantation development progressing steadily.

The Emir expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment demonstrated by BUA Foods, assuring the company of continued support from the Lafiagi community. He noted that the successful implementation of the sugar masterplan would deliver significant economic and social benefits to the area.

Also speaking, the NSDC Executive Secretary, Kamar Bakrin, said the council would continue to work closely with BUA Foods to ensure timely delivery of the project and sustainable development of the sugar sector, adding that BUA Foods represents one of the largest private-sector investments in Nigeria’s sugar industry.

BUA Foods Plc said construction activities at LASUCO would continue at an accelerated pace, reiterating its long-term commitment to strengthening local sugar production, supporting agricultural development and contributing to Nigeria’s broader economic transformation.