BUA Foods Plc is close to delivering what is expected to be the biggest fully integrated sugar production facility in Nigeria, as the company intensifies efforts to boost local output in a market that still depends heavily on imports.
The massive project, situated in Lafiagi, Kwara State, has reached roughly 80% completion.
It reflects the long-term industrial vision of Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of BUA Foods Plc, aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and supporting Nigeria’s economic growth.
Speaking during a site inspection by senior government officials on Monday, Kabiru Rabiu, group executive director of BUA Group, described the scale of the development.
“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 tons of cane processing capacity per day,” Kabiru Rabiu stated during an inspection tour of the site by senior government officials.
“We will be generating 35 megawatts of electricity from bagasse, and process 20 million liters of industrial ethanol per annum.”
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He said the Lafiagi facility would combine a sugar plantation, mill, and refinery into a single operation capable of processing 10,000 tonnes of sugarcane daily.
According to him, the complex will also generate 35 megawatts of electricity using bagasse and produce up to 20 million litres of industrial ethanol each year.
Rabiu acknowledged that the project had experienced setbacks but noted that construction has now accelerated. He said work on the plantations and associated infrastructure has regained momentum and will continue steadily toward completion.
The project, known as the Lafiagi Sugar Company Limited (LASUCO), is being built as a comprehensive agro-industrial hub, BusinessDay reports.
In addition to cane cultivation, milling, and refining facilities, the site will include an ethanol plant, irrigation systems, a dedicated power station, and an airstrip.
Residential housing, healthcare centers, and educational facilities are also planned for employees and nearby communities, all spread across approximately 20,000 hectares of land.
The inspection tour was led by John Owan Enoh, minister of state for industry, alongside officials from the Nigerian Sugar Development Council (NSDC), headed by its executive secretary, Kamar Bakrin.
Enoh also described LASUCO as a landmark investment, noting its size and strategic importance to Nigeria’s sugar industry.
He said the planned capacity of 10,000 tonnes of cane per day makes it the largest greenfield sugar project undertaken by a major industry player in the country.
Bakrin of the NSDC said the magnitude of BUA Foods’ investment distinguishes it within the sugar industry, adding that the council remains committed to supporting the project through to completion.
Once fully operational, the LASUCO facility is expected to produce about 220,000 metric tonnes of refined sugar annually. Its power and ethanol outputs are also expected to support related industries and strengthen Nigeria’s agro-industrial value chain.
