Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) on Monday hosted the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, at the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate in Niger State, as part of efforts to advance local sugar production.

The visit to the estate, operated by Golden Sugar Company, formed part of ongoing engagement between the Nigerian government and private sector stakeholders under the National Sugar Master Plan. The policy is designed to reduce reliance on sugar imports through local cultivation and processing.

Located in Mokwa, the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate spans more than 20,000 hectares, with a portion currently under cultivation. The facility includes a sugar processing plant with an installed capacity to process hundreds of thousands of tonnes of sugarcane each season, with room for expansion.

During the tour, the minister described the project as an example of how policy and private investment can intersect to support industrial development. He noted that the estate integrates farming and processing operations, linking agricultural production directly to manufacturing.

“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. At peak periods, the estate engages up to 4,500 workers, which speaks directly to government’s priority of creating gainful employment. It is impressive to witness the full value chain, from farm to factory demonstrating Nigeria’s capacity for industrial production and self-sufficiency,” the minister stated

He added: “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. Encouragingly, there is clear commitment from operators to scale this up, which will, in turn, maximize processing capacities and move the country closer to meeting its sugar demand.”

The National Sugar Master Plan, introduced to encourage backward integration in the sector, requires operators to invest in local production as a condition for continued participation in sugar refining. Industry players, including FMN, have since developed estates aimed at building domestic capacity.

Officials at the estate said the project also supports employment, particularly during peak production periods when thousands of workers are engaged across farming and factory operations. Beyond direct jobs, the estate has contributed to infrastructure and social services in surrounding communities.

The minister said government would continue to monitor the implementation of the policy, noting that Nigeria has yet to achieve full self-sufficiency in sugar production. He identified the expansion of cultivated land as a key factor in increasing output and meeting domestic demand.

He added that ongoing collaboration between regulators and operators would be required to scale production and strengthen the value chain.

The visit also included the inauguration of a training facility at the estate, aimed at building technical skills among workers and community members. According to officials, the centre is intended to support operational standards and improve productivity across the value chain.

Group Chief Executive Officer of FMN, Boye Olusanya, said the company would continue to invest in its backward integration programme, aligning with broader government objectives on food production and industrial growth.

“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; a commitment the group has kept for over six decades,” said the GCEO of the company incorporated on the 29th of September 1960, almost 66 years ago.

He added: “These achievements are fostered by strong commitment to the tenets of our public-private partnership, which provides a mutually beneficial growth environment that fosters sustainable development.”

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest sugar consumers, with a significant portion of demand still met through imports. The push for local production is part of wider efforts to conserve foreign exchange and develop agro-industrial capacity.

Projects such as the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate are expected to play a role in that transition.