Abdul Samad Rabiu’s BUA Group adds a 22 MW gas plant

BUA Group, the industrial conglomerate led by Nigerian billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu, signed an agreement to develop a 22-megawatt gas-fired power plant. The move aims to secure more consistent energy supply for its operations and reduce reliance on unstable public electricity.

The project, signed by Green Power International, will be executed in partnership with Green Power International Pvt. Ltd. MWM Regional Director Rabih Yazbeck attended the signing. The gas-fired plant is expected to supply power to BUA’s manufacturing facilities and reduce diesel usage, which remains a major cost and operational challenge for industrial companies in Nigeria. The project aligns with BUA’s strategy to cut energy expenses and improve efficiency.

Power investments follow an active deal-making period

Founded in 1988 by Abdul Samad Rabiu, BUA Group has grown into a top player in manufacturing, food processing, mining and infrastructure. The Lagos-based conglomerate operates across cement, sugar, flour and agribusiness, with a focus on local production. 

Rabiu has built the group around a simple idea: strengthen domestic industries to reduce import dependence and create jobs. Over the years, that approach has guided BUA’s investments in cement plants, quarries, construction materials and food processing.

The power project comes after a busy period of expansion for BUA Group. Between late November and early December, the company signed a series of agreements aimed at strengthening its food, agribusiness and logistics operations. 

Those deals include the installation of a rice processing line with a capacity of 32 tonnes per hour and a partnership with Türkiye-based Viteral Integrated Milling Systems to build a 40-tonne-per-hour animal feed mill in Kano State. BUA also announced an agreement to acquire a Bombardier Global 8000 business jet, underscoring its broader investment activity.

Sugar complex anchors long-term strategy 

BUA is also developing Nigeria’s largest integrated sugar complex, expected to process 10,000 tons of sugarcane daily. The facility will generate 35 megawatts of electricity from bagasse and produce 20 million liters of industrial ethanol annually. The project aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported sugar while supporting local agriculture and domestic power production.

BUA Group said the gas plant aligns with Nigeria’s energy transition plans and reflects its shift away from diesel toward cleaner-burning natural gas. The company said the move would help lower emissions while improving energy security across its industrial operations.