Nigeria’s raw sugar import to rise by 12%

Nigeria’s raw sugar import to rise by 12%

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)-Lagos has projected a 12% increase in Nigeria's raw sugar imports for this year and the next, despite the country's aim for self-sufficiency in sugar production. This projected rise is attributed to improvements in foreign exchange availability, a stronger naira, and expected growth in domestic sugar consumption. 

In contrast, local sugarcane cultivation is expected to grow by 5% in 2025/26, with sugarcane production rising by 100%, though this increase is mainly due to revised yield estimates.

Nigeria’s sugar industry faces a persistent gap between production and consumption, with imports still filling this void. However, the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) continues to drive investments, aiming for refined sugar production of 1.7 to 1.8 million metric tons annually and expanding sugarcane cultivation. 

Despite this, stakeholders warn that increasing harvested area alone won’t eliminate the country’s reliance on imports. Issues such as poor infrastructure, limited access to quality inputs, suboptimal farming practices, and insecurity in key production areas need to be addressed for meaningful progress.

Experts like Dr. Femi Egbesola and Prof. Abel Ogunwale emphasize the need for a revamped sugar policy that tackles these challenges, including boosting irrigation, mechanization, and creating local sugar mills. They stress that without these structural changes, Nigeria’s goal of sugar self-sufficiency will remain elusive.