Niger Pushes New Sugar Investment With Land Offer

By Juliet Ezeh

State Positions Itself as Nigeria’s Sugar Hub

The Niger State Government is intensifying efforts to position the state as a major sugar production hub, offering vast land to attract a new multi-million dollar investment into Nigeria’s sugar sector.

Governor Umar Bago extended the offer during a high-level engagement with the National Sugar Development Council and representatives of the Lee Group, owners of GNAL Sugar.

The governor said Niger’s comparative advantage lies in its abundant arable land and water resources, assuring investors of full government backing.

“We are ready to allocate land in any suitable location. Niger State has the political will and natural capacity to support projects that create jobs and grow the economy,” he stated.

NSDC Backs Strategic Sugar Expansion

The Executive Secretary of NSDC, Kamar Bakrin, described the engagement as part of a broader national push for sugar self-sufficiency.

He explained that the council is actively linking credible investors with state governments to unlock land, infrastructure, and institutional support needed for large-scale sugar projects.

A recent NSDC study identified about 1.2 million hectares nationwide as suitable for sugar development, with Niger ranking among the top 11 states with the strongest potential.

Lee Group Eyes Long-Term Investment

Project Director Lam Wing Ki Wilkins said the company’s interest in Niger is based on its natural advantages and long-term agricultural prospects.

He noted that Lee Group has over six decades of experience in industrial and agro-processing ventures, including integrated sugar value chains.

Existing Sugar Presence in Niger

Niger State already hosts the Golden Sugar Company in Mokwa Local Government Area, reinforcing its emerging status as a key player in Nigeria’s sugar industry.

With approximately 76,363 square kilometres of land about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s total land mass the state remains the largest in the country by size, making it strategically positioned for agro-industrial expansion.