Nigeria spent approximately N183.5 billion on raw cane sugar imports for refining during the first half of 2026, as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics. This substantial expenditure highlights Nigeria’s significant reliance on imported cane sugar to meet domestic demand. However, the data indicates a quarter-on-quarter decline in cane sugar imports, registering a decrease of 26.9 percent. The Governor of Niger State has expressed concern over the country’s 97% dependence on sugar imports. This situation raises questions about the nation’s self-sufficiency in sugar production and the impact on the Nigerian economy. Further analysis is needed to understand the factors driving this import dependence and potential strategies to boost local sugar production. The information was originally published by Vanguard News.