BUA Group drives Africa’s food independence through strategic Abu Dhabi deals

BUA Group, one of Africa’s largest industrial and manufacturing conglomerates controlled by Nigeria’s second-richest person Abdul Samad Rabiu, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports Group and MAIR Group to explore collaboration in sugar refining, agro-industrial development, and global logistics.

The partnership aims to strengthen regional food security, expand industrial capacity, and position Abu Dhabi as a hub for trade and manufacturing. The deal comes as BUA Foods, the conglomerate’s food business, nears the completion of Nigeria’s largest integrated sugar complex, a project designed to reduce the country’s reliance on sugar imports.

BUA Foods revenue hits $1.29 billion

BUA Foods Plc, headquartered in Lagos, operates BUA Sugar Refinery, BUA Oil Mills, IRS Flour, IRS Pasta, and BUA Rice. The company reported a sharp jump in earnings for the 2025 financial year, underlining its position as one of Africa’s most profitable food manufacturers amid ongoing inflation and currency pressures that continue to challenge other producers.

The company posted a profit of N507.7 billion ($366.6 million) for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, up from N266 billion ($192.7 million) in the same period in 2024. The gain was driven by higher sales of sugar, pasta, and rice, along with tighter control of production and distribution costs in a difficult operating environment.

Revenue climbed to N1.8 trillion ($1.29 billion), compared with N1.52 trillion ($1.1 billion) in 2024, reflecting both increased demand for staple foods and expanded production capacity. Total assets rose to N1.38 trillion ($990 million) from N1.095 trillion ($780 million), while retained earnings jumped to N694.7 billion ($500 million) from N421 billion ($300 million).

BUA powers African food independence

The MoU with AD Ports and MAIR positions BUA Group to leverage international logistics expertise and Abu Dhabi’s trade network to improve the efficiency of sugar refining and distribution across Africa. The collaboration could support Nigeria’s domestic food production, reduce dependence on imports, and enhance BUA Foods’ reach in regional and global markets.

By combining industrial scale, financial strength, and a new strategic partnership, BUA Group is set to play a larger role in Africa’s food production and trade while delivering measurable returns to shareholders.