By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) has announced the facilitation of 128 million bags of fertilizer production as part of efforts to meet farmers’ needs and boost Nigeria’s food security.

According to Dr. Armstrong Takang, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), the initiative goes beyond production volumes to building a system that shields farmers from global market shocks and enhances long-term agricultural planning.

“We see the PFI as a prime example of public–private collaboration that can solve complex national challenges, and its future is a testament to Nigeria’s capacity for strategic reform,” Takang said in a statement issued in Abuja.

As of September 2025, more raw materials have been imported or ordered than the total supplied in 2024. From 2022 to date, 48 vessels have delivered fertilizer inputs under the PFI, including 10 vessels in 2025 alone, accounting for over 560,000 metric tonnes of raw materials discharged at Nigerian ports.

The Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) confirmed that the initiative has spurred significant growth in productive capacity. Its President, Alhaji Sadiq Kassim, noted that operational blending plants have increased to over 90 nationwide, with a combined capacity of 13 million metric tonnes.

“This capacity is a critical asset in ensuring fertilizer is consistently available for farmers, bringing it closer to their farms and reducing transportation costs,” Kassim said.

Despite progress, industry leaders acknowledged farmers’ concerns over rising prices, which have been attributed to foreign exchange volatility and global raw material costs.

MOFI is set to take over operational management of the programme from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in November 2025. Under PFI 3.0, reforms will prioritize year-round nationwide availability, cost efficiency, traceability to curb hoarding and diversion, and accelerated local sourcing of inputs.

The initiative, according to MOFI, aims to make Nigeria self-sufficient in crop production for both food and industrial use, while strengthening the country’s agro-industrial base and reducing dependence on imports.