The Federal Government has secured over 449,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser inputs—equivalent to about nine million bags—as of May 2026, generating N61.58 billion in savings this year through strategic procurement.
These efforts aim to protect food security and shield farmers from global supply shocks.
In a statement released under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) and the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme (RH-FISP), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the interventions are integral to his administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” to reduce import dependence, strengthen local production, and build resilience in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“Over the past year, disruptions in global supply chains and rising costs of key fertiliser inputs, exacerbated by conflict in the Middle East, have created serious pressure for many countries,” President Tinubu said. “For Nigeria, the risks were glaring if we failed to move fast. This included potential input shortages, higher fertiliser prices, pressure on local blending plants, reduced farm productivity, and higher food prices.”
According to the statement, the government acted early through the PFI, now restructured under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), to strengthen procurement, secure critical raw materials, sign forward agreements, and improve coordination across the value chain.
Scale of the 2026 Fertiliser Programme
The government revealed that 10 vessels carrying fertiliser inputs have either been discharged or are in transit. It remains on track to deliver a 1.1 million metric tonne fertiliser programme this year, equivalent to about 22 million bags.
Strategic contracting for key inputs has already yielded N61.58 billion in savings in 2026 alone. The administration says these funds will help keep fertiliser affordable for farmers despite global price volatility.
Blending Capacity and Jobs
Nigeria now boasts more than 90 operational fertiliser blending plants—the largest such capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa, the statement noted. The government linked this capacity to job creation, local production, industrial growth, and increased resilience in the food system.
Direct Distribution to Smallholders
To ensure timely delivery to farmers, the administration launched RH-FISP through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF). Under the programme, 515,720 bags of locally produced fertiliser are being distributed to 128,930 smallholder farmers across 25 states and the FCT for the current planting season.
NADF is also supporting the rollout with digital extension services, harmonized fertiliser application guidance, and targeted support for priority crops, including rice, maize, cassava, and soybean.
“Promise Made, Promise Kept”
President Tinubu said securing inputs and keeping blending plants running was “only the first step,” adding that the real test lies in ensuring immediate access for farmers.
“Our administration will not relent in its efforts to protect farmers, raise productivity, strengthen the agricultural value chain, support local industry, and ease pressure on food prices over time,” he said. “This is the meaning of ‘promise made, promise kept.’ We will continue to take practical steps to strengthen Nigerian agriculture and protect food security for every Nigerian.”
The dual approach—PFI for bulk procurement and local industry protection, and RH-FISP for last-mile distribution—forms the core of the government’s strategy to stabilize input costs and boost output ahead of the 2026 harvest.
