Integrated sugar facility 80% completed – BUA Foods

BUA Foods Plc has stated that it is nearing completion of what is set to become Nigeria’s largest integrated sugar facility, as the company pushes to deepen local production in a country heavily reliant on imports for the commodity Located in Lafiagi, Kwara State, the project is about 80% completed and underscores Abdul Samad Rabiu’s […]

BUA Foods Plc has stated that it is nearing completion of what is set to become Nigeria’s largest integrated sugar facility, as the company pushes to deepen local production in a country heavily reliant on imports for the commodity

Located in Lafiagi, Kwara State, the project is about 80% completed and underscores Abdul Samad Rabiu’s commitment, as chairman of BUA Foods Plc, to industrialisation and transformative investments that drive economic growth.

“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, group executive director of BUA group, said on Monday 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,” he added.

He acknowledged delays on the project but said momentum has picked up. “Yes, we have had some delays, but now, we have really gotten things on serious momentum, and we will continue with the plantation,” he said.

The Lafiagi Sugar Company Limited project, known as LASUCO is being developed as a fully integrated operation spanning sugarcane plantations, milling and refining facilities, an ethanol plant, irrigation systems, airstrip and a power station.

The complex also includes housing, healthcare and education facilities for workers and host communities, all situated on roughly 20,000 hectares of land

The inspection formed part of the federal government’s efforts to track progress on major industrial projects and reinforce its backward integration policy, which aims to expand domestic production, reduce import dependence and support industrial growth under President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda.

 

 

 

The minister described LASUCO as a landmark investment for the sector, stressing its size and strategic importance.

 

 

 

“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,” Enoh said. He added that the visit reinforced confidence in the project’s management and the need for continued collaboration with the government to meet delivery timelines.