The Federal Government has directed Dangote Sugar Refinery to raise its annual production to 600,000 metric tonnes by the year 2030 as part of efforts to close Nigeria’s widening sugar supply gap.

The directive was issued by the Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, during an inspection visit to the company’s sugar complex in Numan, Adamawa State. He was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, Kamar Bakrin.

Enoh explained that the tour was part of a nationwide review of sugar projects aimed at advancing the country’s drive for self-reliance in sugar production, in line with the agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the minister, Nigeria consumes roughly 1.8 million metric tonnes of sugar each year, a figure that significantly exceeds current local output. He noted that major industry operators such as Dangote Sugar must play a central role in narrowing the deficit.

He praised the progress made at the Numan facility, describing the scale of infrastructure and investment as a clear sign that the company is aligning with the Federal Government’s backward integration strategy in the sugar sector. However, he stressed that faster execution would be required to meet national goals.

The minister acknowledged that operators in the sector face obstacles, particularly in accessing affordable long-term financing, and assured that the government was prepared to work with stakeholders to remove such barriers.

He added that boosting local production would not only reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported sugar but also create more jobs and stimulate value addition through expanded sugarcane processing.

Vice President of the Dangote Group, Olakunle Alake, reaffirmed the company’s readiness to scale up operations to meet the government’s target. He said additional investments would be made to increase capacity before the 2030 deadline.

During the visit, the delegation toured the ongoing factory expansion project designed to process 6,000 tonnes of sugar per day, as well as the plantation fields, milling areas, boilers, turbines and packaging units.

The Federal Government’s push is anchored on the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan, a policy framework aimed at achieving self-sufficiency, cutting import reliance and addressing the large gap between domestic production and national demand.