Minister tours Flour Mills, lauds investments in sugar production

Flour Mills of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s sugar self-sufficiency agenda as it hosted the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh, on a tour of the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to PidomNigeria Online on Tuesday, stating that the visit formed part of the Federal Government’s efforts to deepen agricultural industrialisation under the National Sugar Master Plan, and the Backward Integration Programme, aimed at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported sugar while boosting local production capacity.

FMN said the Golden Sugar Company at Sunti has been a key participant in the NSMP since 2012, describing the estate as one of the most significant private sector-led investments in Nigeria’s sugar value chain.

During the tour of the facility, Enoh commended FMN for what he described as a functioning model of industrial agriculture, noting that the estate reflects what is possible when policy direction and private sector investment align effectively.

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

He said the estate currently employs up to 4,500 workers at peak periods, adding that it aligns with government priorities on job creation, rural development, and economic diversification.

Enoh stressed that expanding sugarcane cultivation remains critical to achieving national self-sufficiency.

“We will continue with constant monitoring to ensure that the objectives of the Backward Integration Programme are achieved. While progress has been made, we are not yet at full sufficiency as a nation.

“The key challenge remains expanding the land under sugarcane cultivation. There is a clear commitment from operators to scale this up, which will, in turn, maximise processing capacities and move the country closer to meeting its sugar demand,” he added.

He also highlighted the estate’s social impact across 28 host communities, including infrastructure such as roads, schools, water supply, healthcare services, and rural electrification.

According to him, these interventions demonstrate the effectiveness of the National Sugar Master Plan as a policy framework for attracting investment and strengthening domestic production.

In his remarks, FMN Group Chief Executive Officer, Boye Olusanya, reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s sugar self-sufficiency drive through sustained investment in backward integration.

“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,” he said.

Olusanya added that FMN remains committed to deepening public-private partnerships to strengthen food systems and reduce import dependence.

Other dignitaries present included the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council, Kamar Bakrin, senior FMN executives, and community leaders from Mokwa.

The visit also featured the inauguration of a training centre within the estate aimed at building technical capacity and improving skills within host communities.

The tour ended with renewed calls for stronger collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders to expand local sugar production, strengthen value chains, and reduce Nigeria’s import bill.