The fertiliser sector in Nigeria is in good season. There has been a remarkable transformation from where it was in 2016, when the country had just four operational plants. Thanks to the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, PFI, which is managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA. By July this year the local fertiliser blending capacity has shot up from that four plants nine years ago to 90, representing an unprecedented 21.5 fold increase.
Along with the momentum growth is the delivery of over 128 million bags of high quality blended fertiliser to farmers across the country. In the process, over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs were created. This development has saved the country the embarrassment of depending on other countries for the farm input. It is a great joy for Nigerian farmers, even as prices of the commodity has stabilised in recent years.
Aminu Umar-Sadiq, NSIA Managing Director and CEO commended the PFI, saying, “When the PFI started, blending plants across Nigeria were moribund. Fertiliser was expensive, scarce, and mostly imported. Today, we have over 90 active plants, millions of bags delivered to farmers, and a thriving industry that is now financially self-sufficient.”
As the NSIA hands over management of the scheme to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), the stage is set for a new phase of growth and development. MOFI Managing Director, Armstrong Takang, outlines the agency’s plans: “By the time we fully take over, we will implement robust traceability systems, enforce stricter quality control, and strengthen regulation to completely end adulteration and diversion of raw materials.”
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, emphasised the importance of collective effort in achieving food security: “Every Nigerian has a role to play in increased food production. The government’s role is to provide the enabling environment and necessary infrastructure for the sector to thrive.”
