FG Commends Lafiagi Community for Sustaining Peace, Urges BUA Foods to Fast-Track Completion of Integrated Sugar Complex

The Federal Government has lauded the people of the Lafiagi Emirate in Kwara State for their unwavering support and the maintenance of a peaceful atmosphere, which it described as the “gold standard” for host community relations in Nigeria’s agro-industrial sector.

The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, gave the commendation on Sunday, December 21, 2025, during a courtesy visit to the palace of the 14th Emir of Lafiagi, HRH Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu. The visit was part of a strategic nationwide inspection of sugar projects aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in sugar production.

The Minister noted that the Lafiagi Sugar Company (LASUCO), a multi-million-dollar investment by BUA Foods, has enjoyed a unique level of cooperation from the community, which has significantly reduced the typical project delays associated with land or community disputes. “Traditional institutions and host communities are the silent engines of industrial success,” Senator Enoh stated. “The peace in Lafiagi is a clear signal to investors that this community understands the long-term socio-economic benefits of this project.”

During a comprehensive tour of the 20,000-hectare estate, the Minister inspected the nearly completed sugar mill, the ethanol plant, and the 35MW power infrastructure. While acknowledging that the infrastructure is roughly 80% complete, he delivered a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the management of BUA Foods to move decisively from the construction phase to full-scale production.

Specifically, the Minister stressed the need for accelerated sugarcane cultivation to match the factory’s massive 10,000-tonne-per-day crushing capacity. He emphasized that farm expansion remains the most critical hurdle to achieving full operational readiness and drastically reducing the country’s reliance on imported raw sugar.

Responding, the Emir of Lafiagi reaffirmed the community’s commitment to the project, describing it as a “game-changer” that has already put the town on the global map with its newly constructed airstrip and industrial facilities. He assured the Federal Government that the Emirate would continue to provide the security and local manpower necessary to ensure the firm achieves its goal of producing 220,000 metric tonnes of refined sugar annually.