BUA Foods Nears Completion of Nigeria’s Largest Sugar Plant
By Erewunmi Peace
BUA Foods Plc has announced that it is nearing completion of what is expected to become Nigeria’s largest integrated sugar production facility, marking a major milestone in the country’s drive toward local manufacturing and import substitution.
The sugar plant, located in Lafiagi, Kwara State, is part of BUA Foods’ large-scale backward integration project designed to boost domestic sugar production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported raw sugar.
According to company officials, construction of the facility is about 80 per cent complete, with final installations and testing currently underway. Once operational, the plant will have the capacity to process large volumes of sugarcane and produce refined sugar for both industrial and household consumption.
Boost for Local Production
The Lafiagi sugar project is expected to play a significant role in strengthening Nigeria’s sugar value chain. In addition to sugar production, the facility will support ethanol generation and electricity production through the use of bagasse, a by-product of sugarcane processing.
Industry analysts say the project aligns with the Federal Government’s National Sugar Development Programme (NSDP), which encourages private sector investment in sugarcane farming and processing to achieve self-sufficiency.
Economic Impact
When completed, the plant is projected to:
Create thousands of direct and indirect jobs
Support local farmers through out-grower schemes
Reduce foreign exchange spent on sugar imports
Contribute to food security and industrial growth
Government officials who recently inspected the project described it as a major step toward Nigeria’s industrialisation goals and commended BUA Foods for its commitment to local production.
BUA Foods’ Expansion Drive
BUA Foods Plc, a subsidiary of BUA Group, is one of Nigeria’s leading food manufacturing companies with interests in sugar, flour, pasta, rice, and edible oils. The company has continued to invest heavily in large-scale production facilities as part of its long-term growth strategy.
The Lafiagi sugar plant is expected to commence operations after final commissioning, further strengthening BUA Foods’ position in Nigeria’s food manufacturing sector.
