FMN deepens sugar self-sufficiency push, hosts minister at Sunti Sugar Estate

By Ezurike Ugochukwu 

Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) has reinforced its leadership in Nigeria’s sugar self-sufficiency drive with the hosting of the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, at the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate (SGSE), a flagship agro-industrial project in Niger State.

The high-level visit underscored the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to accelerating agricultural industrialisation, strengthening local value chains, and reducing the nation’s dependence on imported sugar.

The Sunti estate, developed under the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) and Backward Integration Programme (BIP), stands as a practical demonstration of how policy alignment and private sector investment can drive large-scale industrial agriculture in Nigeria.

Spanning over 21,500 hectares, with about 3,700 hectares currently under cultivation, the estate has a production capacity of 600,000 tonnes of sugarcane per season, with plans to scale up to one million tonnes.

Speaking after touring the facility, Senator Enoh described the estate as a clear example of a working agro-industrial ecosystem delivering tangible economic value.

He said, “Going round the facility, you can clearly see that this is a functioning industry with all the key elements in place as: employment, production, and value creation.

“At peak periods, the estate engages up to 4,500 workers, which aligns directly with government’s priority of creating jobs. What is particularly impressive is the full value chain from farm to factory, demonstrating Nigeria’s capacity for industrial production and self-sufficiency.”

The Minister commended FMN for its sustained investment and strict adherence to the BIP, noting that the Sunti project represents a “proof-of-policy” success under the NSMP framework.

He, however, stressed that Nigeria must expand sugarcane cultivation to achieve full self-sufficiency.

“While progress has been made, we are not yet at full sufficiency as a nation. The key challenge remains expanding the land under cultivation,” he noted.

“Encouragingly, operators are showing strong commitment to scale up production. Government will continue to provide oversight and support to ensure the objectives of the programme are achieved.”

Transforming communities, creating livelihoods

Beyond production, the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate has delivered significant socio-economic benefits to its 28 host communities. These include road infrastructure, potable water, schools, healthcare services, rural electrification, and thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

The Minister described these interventions as evidence that the National Sugar Master Plan is not only boosting industrial output but also driving inclusive rural development.

FMN reaffirms commitment to national development

In his remarks, the Group Managing Director/CEO of FMN, Mr. Boye Olusanya, reiterated the company’s long-standing commitment to supporting government’s industrialisation agenda through sustainable investments.

“Sunti Golden Sugar Estate is a testament to FMN’s unyielding commitment to sustainably feeding and enriching the lives of millions of Nigerians every day,” Olusanya said.

“For over six decades, we have remained consistent in creating value through strong public-private partnerships that foster growth, innovation, and sustainable development.”

He added that FMN would continue to deepen its backward integration strategy across its value chains to strengthen Nigeria’s food sovereignty and reduce reliance on imports.

A major highlight of the visit was the commissioning of a state-of-the-art training centre at the estate. The facility is designed to upskill and reskill workers, farmers, and stakeholders within the community, ensuring operations align with global best practices.

Call for stronger collaboration

The visit concluded with a renewed call for stronger collaboration between government and industry players to scale up local sugar production, enhance processing capacity, and significantly cut Nigeria’s sugar import bill.

With projects like Sunti gaining momentum, stakeholders say Nigeria is steadily advancing towards a more resilient, self-sufficient, and industrialised agricultural sector.