BUA Foods Nears Completion of Nigeria’s Largest Sugar Plant

News in brief:

-BUA Foods’ Lafiagi sugar project is about 80% complete and will be Nigeria’s largest integrated sugar mill, refinery, and plantation.

-The facility will process 10,000 tonnes of cane daily, generate power, produce ethanol, and reduce Nigeria’s sugar import dependence.

BUA Foods Plc is nearing completion of what is set to become Nigeria’s largest integrated sugar facility, as the company intensifies efforts to deepen local sugar production in a country that remains heavily dependent on imports.

Located in Lafiagi, Kwara State, the project is about 80% complete and reflects the industrialisation drive of Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Foods Plc, aimed at expanding domestic manufacturing capacity and supporting economic growth.

Largest Sugar Mill and Plantation in Nigeria

Speaking during an inspection tour by senior government officials, Kabiru Rabiu, Group Executive Director of BUA Group, described the scale of the investment.

“What we are building here in Lafiagi will be the largest sugar mill, sugar plantation and sugar refinery in this country with a 10,000 tonnes-per-day cane processing capacity,” he said.

He added that the project will generate 35 megawatts of electricity from bagasse and produce 20 million litres of industrial ethanol annually, supporting both energy needs and industrial applications.

Integrated Industrial Complex Takes Shape

The Lafiagi Sugar Company Limited (LASUCO) project is being developed as a fully integrated operation spanning sugarcane plantations, milling and refining facilities, an ethanol plant, irrigation systems, an airstrip, and a power station.

The complex also includes housing, healthcare, and education facilities for workers and host communities, all spread across approximately 20,000 hectares of land.

Rabiu acknowledged earlier delays but said progress has accelerated.

“Yes, we have had some delays, but now we have really gained momentum, and we will continue with the plantation,” he stated.

Federal Government Tracks Strategic Investments

The inspection was led by John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, alongside officials of the Nigerian Sugar Development Council (NSDC), headed by its Executive Secretary, Kamar Bakrin.

The visit forms part of the federal government’s effort to monitor strategic industrial projects and reinforce Nigeria’s backward integration policy, which aims to expand domestic production, reduce sugar imports, and conserve foreign exchange under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic agenda.

After touring the site, Enoh said the infrastructure already in place underscored the urgency of completing the project.

“It is amazing to see the level of infrastructure on ground, including roads, a landing strip of about three kilometres, and provisions for workers and the community,” he said.

He described LASUCO as a landmark investment, noting that its 10,000 tonnes-per-day capacity makes it the largest greenfield sugar project by any major operator in Nigeria.

Host Community and Regulators Express Support

Ahead of the inspection, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Lafiagi, Mohammed Kudu Kawu, who welcomed the project and highlighted its importance to local development.

“We are interested in seeing the sugar masterplan fully operational, because we know what it can do for our people,” the Emir said.

NSDC’s Bakrin described the investment as unprecedented within the sector. “Nobody has invested in a sugar factory as much as BUA Foods,” he said, reaffirming the council’s commitment to supporting its completion.

Expected Output and Economic Impact

Once operational, LASUCO is expected to produce about 220,000 metric tonnes of refined sugar annually, alongside power generation and ethanol output that could support related industries.

The project is central to Nigeria’s push to stabilise sugar supply, conserve foreign exchange, create jobs, and strengthen the agricultural value chain.

BUA Foods said construction will continue at an accelerated pace, reinforcing the company’s long-term bet on Nigeria’s sugar industry and large-scale domestic manufacturing.