The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has invested about ₦2.2 billion in the Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Ltd. (OSDL) in Iseyin to boost domestic sugar production and accelerate the implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP).
In a statement released on Thursday, the council disclosed that the 300-tonnes-per-day (TCD) greenfield sugar mill has now reached the commissioning and test-running stage.
The NSDC initially provided approximately ₦1.64 billion for the procurement of the 300 TCD mill before expanding its financial commitment to ₦2.2 billion to cover core mill infrastructure, sugarcane plantation development, and operational support. In addition, the Oyo State Government contributed about ₦850 million in equity funding to complete outstanding works at the facility.
What began as a cooperative farming venture among local communities in Iseyin has now evolved into an integrated sugar manufacturing facility aimed at strengthening sugarcane-based industrial activity across Oyo State.
Commenting on the milestone, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NSDC, Kamar Bakrin, highlighted the collaborative effort behind the project.
“That this factory now stands ready for commissioning is the result of sustained commitment by the Council, by the Oyo state government and by the promoters themselves,” Bakrin said.
Bakrin assured that the council would remain actively involved as the plant transitions into full-scale commercial operations. He noted that the project underscores the potential of building Nigeria’s sugar industry around locally grown sugarcane while advancing the NSMP’s Backward Integration Programme (BIP).
By expanding local sugarcane cultivation and processing capacity, the OSDL facility is expected to bolster Federal Government efforts to reduce reliance on imported sugar, enhance domestic industrial self-reliance, and create local economic opportunities.
