Minister assesses BUA Foods’ progress in sugar production

BUA Foods Plc has hosted the Minister of State for Industry, Dr. John Owan Enoh, alongside a delegation from the Nigerian Sugar Development Council (NSDC), led by its Executive Secretary, Kamar Bakrin, on an inspection tour of Lafiagi Sugar Company Limited (LASUCO) in Lafiagi, Kwara State.

The visit was undertaken to assess the level of progress recorded on the sugar production facility, which is currently about 80 per cent completed.

It was also to reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to support the backward integration program in line with the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu administration’s renewed hope agenda and Nigeria’s drive towards sugar self-sufficiency.

The scale of investment in the project also reflects the unwavering commitment of the Chairman of BUA Foods Plc, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, to industrialisation and transformational outcomes that impact economic growth.

The inspection tour provided the Minister and NSDC representatives with a firsthand view of the significant progress being made at LASUCO, which is being developed as a fully integrated sugar production facility that will produce 10,000 tons of cane per day.

The LASUCO facility will also produce 220, 000 metric tons of refined sugar per annum, 35 megawatts of electricity and process 20 million liters of industrial ethanol per annum.

The visit formed part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to monitor project execution, encourage timely delivery, and ensure alignment with national policies aimed at increasing local sugar production, reducing import dependence, and driving sustainable industrial growth.

During the tour, the delegation was taken through LASUCO’s integrated operations, including sugarcane plantations, refinery and milling facilities, ethanol plant, irrigation systems, power plant, housing estate, airstrip, as well as healthcare and education facilities, all situated on approximately 20,000 hectares of land.

Commenting on the progress of LASUCO after the tour, Industry Minister Dr. Enoh, said, “it is amazing to see the kinds of things I have seen on ground in terms of the necessary infrastructure, such as the road, the landing point of about 3 kilometers and the provision for workers and community.

“Having said that, there is also the necessary infrastructure for the takeoff of LASUCO. So yes, progress has been made, and progress has to continue to be made. My understanding is that LASUCO is the largest green field factory by any of the majors; 10,000 tons of cane per day capacity at completion, so this factory has to be completed.

“Part of my takeaway from this visit is that there is commitment on the part of the management of LASUCO and we need to work together to a completion date”.

Prior to the facility inspection, Dr. Enoh, the Group Executive Director of BUA Group, Alhaji Kabiru Rabiu, Managing Director, BUA Foods Plc, Engr. Ayodele Abioye, and the accompanying delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Lafiagi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu, at his palace.

During the visit, Rabiu, announced that LASUCO will be the largest integrated sugar plant in Nigeria. In his remarks, he said, “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.

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“We will be generating 35megawatts of electricity from bagasse, and process 20 million liters of industrial ethanol per annum. Yes, we have had some delays, but now, we have really gotten things on serious momentum, and we will continue with the plantation”.

He expressed appreciation to the Emir and the Minister for their commitment and willingness to support BUA Foods and the Nigerian economy in general.

The Emir expressed satisfaction with the commitment demonstrated by BUA Foods Plc on the LASUCO project and reiterated that Lafiagi, as a community, will continue to support the organisation, stating that “we are interested in the sugar masterplan to be operational, because we know what it can do for us”.

NSDC Executive Secretary Kamar Bakrin also reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to working closely with BUA Foods Plc to ensure timely project delivery and long-term sector development, stating that “nobody has invested in a sugar factory as much as BUA Foods”.

At the conclusion of the tour, BUA Foods Plc reiterated that construction activities at LASUCO will continue at an accelerated pace to ensure its successful completion, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to Nigeria’s sugar industry, agricultural development, and economic transformation.