FG Pushes Dangote Sugar to Hit 600,000MT Production Target by 2030

By Our Reporter

The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, has charged the management of the Dangote Group of Companies to expand the annual production capacity of its subsidiary, Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR), to 600,000 metric tonnes by 2030.
The Minister, accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr.

Kamar Bakrin, gave the directive during a visit to the DSR Complex in Numan, Adamawa State.
The visit formed part of ongoing strategic inspections of sugar projects nationwide, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to accelerate Nigeria’s drive toward self-sufficiency in sugar production.
Enoh observed that Nigeria’s current local sugar production falls significantly short of the country’s annual consumption of 1.8 million metric tonnes. He stressed that, as a leading operator in the sector, DSR is expected to contribute no less than 600,000 metric tonnes by 2030 and sustain that level.
He described DSR as a major player among the three key operators in the industry, noting that the sector’s progress is closely tied to the company’s performance. He also commended the NSDC Executive Secretary for his dedication and passion toward developing the sugar sector, emphasizing the need for collective cooperation to achieve the objectives of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP).
The Minister added that President Tinubu has repeatedly emphasized the importance of developing the sugar industry during Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings and other engagements, insisting that the 600,000MT target must be achieved before 2031.
While praising the NSDC for its efforts in motivating and monitoring operators, Enoh highlighted that the scale of infrastructure, level of investment, and progress of projects—particularly the new 6000 tonnes-per-day (TCD) plant—demonstrate DSR’s strong commitment to the Backward Integration Programme (BIP).
He also commended the DSR team for improving performance in recent times, assuring them of the Federal Government’s readiness to collaborate in removing obstacles to increased local sugar production.
Expressing satisfaction with what he observed during the visit, the Minister emphasized the importance of scaling up production to meet the expectations of the President and achieve national self-sufficiency.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines, Enoh noted that the Backward Integration Programme is progressing, highlighting its positive impact on employment and value addition through the processing of harvested sugarcane into refined sugar. However, he stressed the need for faster implementation.
He pointed out that the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan, now over a decade old, has clear targets based on the country’s annual sugar demand of about 1.8 million metric tonnes. Given Dangote Sugar’s leading position, he said greater output is expected from the company.
The Minister acknowledged Dangote Sugar’s commitment to reaching the 600,000MT annual production target by 2030, adding that the government is prepared to support the company in overcoming challenges. He identified access to affordable long-term financing, often referred to as patient capital, as a key issue and said efforts are underway to explore how government can assist in that regard.
In his remarks, the Vice President of the Dangote Group, Mr. Olakunle Alake, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to increasing investment and scaling up production capacity, assuring that the 600,000MT target will be achieved by 2030.
During the visit, the Minister and the NSDC leadership inspected the new 6000TCD factory expansion site, harvest fields, haulage operations, and new field developments. They also toured the mills, boilers, turbine evaporators, and witnessed the bagging of sugar at the warehouse.