Sugar Import Scandal Rocks Nigeria: Reps Probe Discrepancies

Dayo Thomas

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has launched an investigation into alleged discrepancies in Nigeria’s sugar import data, sparking concerns over revenue accuracy and transparency. The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) approved approximately 2 million metric tonnes of raw sugar imports, but there’s suspicion that actual imports may not match the approved figures.

In 2024, Nigeria imported N953.9 billion worth of raw sugar, with Brazil accounting for N952.59 billion and the Netherlands contributing N1.376 billion. This staggering figure is part of a larger trend, with sugar imports rising to N2.21 trillion between 2020-2024, a 328% increase from the N516.61 billion recorded between 2015-2019.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s local sugar production is woefully inadequate, meeting less than 5% of the country’s needs. In 2023, the country produced only 40,000 metric tonnes of sugar, a far cry from the 1.7 million tonnes demanded.

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance is urging the NSDC to improve monitoring and reconciliation mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in the sugar import process. The Nigeria Customs Service is responsible for collecting and remitting revenue, but the committee wants assurances that the system is robust and leak-proof.

The investigation highlights the need for Nigeria to boost its local sugar production and reduce reliance on imports.