ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria successfully averted a potential fertiliser crisis through early government intervention, strategic procurement and support for local production, describing the move as a critical step towards strengthening food security across the country.
In a statement highlighting the administration’s agricultural support programmes, the President said rising global input costs, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East had posed significant risks to fertiliser availability and affordability this year.
According to Tinubu, the situation could have resulted in higher fertiliser prices for farmers, reduced agricultural productivity and increased pressure on food prices nationwide.
However, he said the Federal Government acted proactively through the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), which has now been restructured under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), to secure critical fertiliser inputs and sustain local blending operations.
The President disclosed that more than 449,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser inputs, equivalent to about nine million bags, were secured for blending plants across the country. He added that 10 vessels carrying fertiliser inputs had either discharged or were currently in transit.
Tinubu further revealed that the initiative is targeting the production of 1.1 million metric tonnes of fertiliser in 2026, while approximately 22 million bags are expected to be produced this year.
He noted that strategic contracting under the PFI helped the government save about ₦61.58 billion, while also protecting more than 90 fertiliser blending plants nationwide.
The President said Nigeria currently possesses the largest fertiliser blending capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa, positioning the country to meet growing agricultural demands and support domestic food production.
Beyond production, Tinubu said the government is ensuring that fertiliser reaches farmers through the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme being implemented by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).
Under the programme, 515,720 bags of locally produced fertiliser are currently being distributed to farmers across 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative is expected to benefit 128,930 smallholder farmers, with each participating state receiving 20,160 bags of fertiliser and supporting about 5,040 farmers.
Priority is being given to farmers cultivating key staple crops including rice, maize, cassava and soybean, which are considered vital to national food security.
Tinubu said the administration’s approach focuses on securing agricultural inputs, supporting local industries, increasing farm productivity and ultimately reducing pressure on food prices.
“This is what food security looks like in practice. We secure the inputs, keep local plants producing, get fertiliser to farmers, raise productivity and ease pressure on food prices over time,” the President stated.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening food security across the agricultural value chain and ensuring sustainable support for Nigerian farmers.
