Speaking during a meeting with NSDC and Lee Group officials at the Government House, Minna, Governor Bago invited the investors to select any land within the state for their operations, assuring that necessary resources and administrative support would be provided.
“Niger State is open to serious investors. We have the land, water, and political will to support projects that will grow our economy and create jobs,” he said. “The government is ready to provide land for this sugar project from any part of the state that the investor considers suitable.”
Partnership to Drive Sugar Industry Growth
The delegation, led by NSDC Executive Secretary and CEO, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, included officials from both the Council and Lee Group, owners of GNAL Sugar. The visit aimed to introduce the Lee Group as a credible investor with significant experience in large-scale sugar production and to explore the potential for establishing a sustainable sugar project in Niger State.
Mr. Bakrin emphasised NSDC’s role in facilitating investor engagements, noting that the Council works closely with sub-national governments to unlock land, infrastructure, and institutional support necessary for successful sugar ventures. He described Lee Group as “a serious conglomerate with a long-standing track record in sugar and industrial development” and highlighted the aim of building long-term partnerships to benefit both the state and the nation.
Lee Group’s Commitment
Speaking on behalf of the company, Project Director Mr. Lam Wing Ki Wilkins underscored the Lee Group’s six-decade history in industrial and agro-industrial development, including sugarcane cultivation, processing, and integrated value-chain management.
“Lee Group has been in the industrial sector for more than 60 years, and we understand that sugar production is a long-term investment,” Wilkins said. “Our interest in Niger State is based on its natural advantages, especially land and water resources. We are prepared to work patiently with the state government and NSDC to develop a sustainable sugar project.”
He further highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability, local value creation, and alignment with Nigeria’s broader sugar development objectives.
Niger State: A Strategic Location
Niger State, the largest state in Nigeria by land area at approximately 76,363 km², offers ample arable land and abundant water resources, making it a strategic location for sugar development. NSDC’s recent national study identified around 1.2 million hectares of land across the country suitable for sugar projects, with Niger listed among the top 11 states for potential sugarcane cultivation.
The state already hosts an existing brownfield sugar entity, the Golden Sugar Company (GSC), owned by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc in Sunti, Mokwa Local Government Area.
Governor Bago assured continued collaboration with NSDC and Lee Group to create a conducive investment environment, stressing that the initiative would be guided by principles of partnership and long-term growth.
The engagement follows a similar collaboration in November 2025, when NSDC facilitated Lee Group’s entry into Taraba State, where Governor Agbu Kefas promptly made land available for a multi-million-dollar sugar project, demonstrating the Council’s ongoing efforts to expand Nigeria’s sugar industry.