The Federal Government has restated its determination to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar production as part of efforts to strengthen food security and reduce dependence on imports. The assurance came under the framework of the National Sugar Master Plan, which is being implemented to expand local production and create opportunities across the value chain.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the government is working closely with the National Sugar Development Council and other stakeholders to boost sugarcane cultivation, scale up investment, and revive dormant assets in the sub-sector. Officials noted that the plan is designed to unlock the country’s full potential in sugar production while attracting both domestic and foreign investors.

As part of the initiative, Niger Foods Security Systems & Logistics Company Limited has unveiled plans to cultivate 50,000 hectares of sugarcane, targeting an output of two million tonnes, while the Niger State Government has secured 250,000 hectares for sugarcane farming with an estimated $3 billion earmarked for sugar plants. The project is expected to generate massive employment for youths and women farmers and contribute significantly to the nation’s economic diversification agenda.