The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, has urged Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc to scale up the annual production capacity of its subsidiary, Golden Sugar Company (GSC), to 300,000 metric tonnes by 2030.

Enoh, alongside the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, gave the directive during a visit to the GSC complex in Sunti, Niger State. The visit forms part of ongoing inspections of sugar projects nationwide, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to accelerate Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in sugar production.

The inspection followed earlier visits to Lafiagi Sugar Company (LASUCO), owned by BUA Foods, and the Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) complex.

Speaking during the tour, the Minister noted that Nigeria’s current local sugar output remains significantly below its annual consumption of 1.8 million metric tonnes. He stressed that GSC must play a key role in closing this gap by contributing 300,000 metric tonnes by 2030.

Enoh commended the level of activity at the Sunti complex, describing it as a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s Backward Integration Programme (BIP). He highlighted the facility’s contribution to employment, noting that it engages about 4,500 workers at peak capacity.

“I am impressed by what I have seen here—from the farms to the factory. It shows the potential of the industry to meet national targets. However, while this reflects progress under the BIP, it still falls short of expectations,” he said.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to industrialisation, assuring continued support through fiscal incentives and funding initiatives.

Also speaking, NSDC Executive Secretary, Mr. Bakrin, acknowledged GSC’s progress but stressed that more work is required to meet national targets.

“We recognise the strides made so far, but there are still significant opportunities for improvement. Achieving these goals will require accountability, cost efficiency, and timely delivery,” he said.

Bakrin added that the government’s support remains unwavering, with a dedicated NSDC team working closely with GSC to drive results.

Meanwhile, GSC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Boye Olusanya, disclosed that the company currently cultivates about 6,600 hectares, producing roughly 20,000 metric tonnes annually. He said the firm plans to increase output to 290,000 metric tonnes by 2030.

The visit also featured a tour of the farm and factory, as well as the commissioning of a Sugar Training School established within the complex.