KEY POINTS

• BUA rice processing expansion accelerates with a new Bühler partnership.
• BUA rice processing expansion supports strong revenue growth across food units.
• BUA rice processing expansion signals deeper investment in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Nigerian billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu is accelerating his industrial expansion with another significant investment in Nigeria’s food sector.

The move comes shortly after unveiling a new animal feed mill, reinforcing Rabiu’s ambition to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity.

Rabiu finalizes partnership as BUA rice processing expansion advances

The latest agreement establishes a 32-tonnes-per-hour rice processing line designed to enhance BUA’s rapidly growing rice operations. The deal was concluded on December 2 in Dubai, where Rabiu met Bühler West Africa’s managing director Thomas Ogundiran. The agreement follows another partnership with Türkiye’s Viteral Systems to construct a high-capacity feed mill in Kano.

BUA’s rice division has delivered extraordinary growth, driven by rising demand and aggressive capacity expansion across several regions. Head Rice revenue surged from N1.5 billion in 2024 to N77.43 billion in 2025, reflecting intense consumer demand. These gains continue reinforcing BUA rice processing expansion as a central driver of the company’s financial performance.

BUA Foods profit rises sharply as BUA rice processing expansion strengthens revenue

BUA Foods manages a broad portfolio including sugar refining, oil mills, flour processing, pasta production and large-scale rice operations. The business remains under firm family control, with Rabiu holding a dominant stake supported by his son Isyaku Naziru Rabiu.

Financial results for the nine months ending September 30 show BUA Foods posting N405.2 billion in profit, nearly doubling last year’s figures. Revenue climbed to N1.42 trillion as consumer demand strengthened across sugar, pasta, flour and rice categories nationwide. Total assets rose to N1.242 trillion, and retained earnings rose a lot to N592 billion.

Earlier collaborations include a partnership with Alfa Laval to develop a modern palm oil refinery supporting sustainable agricultural practices. The facility can process 1,000 tons of palm oil a day, which will help Nigeria rely less on imported palm oil.

According to Billionaires Africa, the group is quickly putting its Backward Integration Project into action, aimed at minimizing imports and expanding local production capacity in essential commodities. By combining global expertise with local industrial strategy, BUA Group is strengthening Nigeria’s manufacturing landscape through large-scale, long-term investments.