December 16, (THEWILL) — BUA Foods Plc has moved closer to completing what is expected to be Nigeria’s largest integrated sugar refinery, marking a major milestone in the company’s drive to deepen local production and reduce the country’s dependence on sugar imports.
The sugar plant, located in Lafiagi, Kwara State, has a processing capacity of about 10,000 tonnes per day and is expected to boost Nigeria’s domestic sugar output once fully operational. The project forms a core part of BUA Foods’ backward integration strategy under the National Sugar Development Programme (NSDP).
According to the company, construction work at the facility is largely complete, with installation of key equipment at an advanced stage. Commissioning activities are expected to begin soon, paving the way for phased production. When operational, the plant will integrate sugarcane cultivation, milling, refining and packaging, strengthening supply-chain efficiency and cost control.
BUA Foods stated the project will support food security, conserve foreign exchange, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across farming, logistics and processing. The company has also developed large-scale sugarcane plantations to supply the refinery, reducing reliance on imported raw sugar.
For investors, the project is seen as a long-term earnings driver, with analysts noting that expanded local capacity could improve margins, stabilise input costs and enhance BUA Foods’ competitive position in Nigeria’s consumer goods market. The development also aligns with government efforts to promote import substitution and industrialisation in the agro-processing sector.
BUA Foods has continued to ramp up capacity across its core segments, sugar, flour, pasta and rice, as it positions itself to meet rising domestic demand driven by population growth and urbanisation. The near-completion of the sugar plant underscores the group’s strategy of scaling production assets to deliver sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze
