Nigeria’s Presidential Fertilizer Initiative Enters Phase 3.0 to Boost Food Security

The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) has entered a new phase, PFI 3.0, aimed at ensuring a stable supply of raw materials for blending plants and driving Nigeria toward self-sufficiency in crop production for food and industrial use.

In a statement, Tajudeen Ahmed, Executive Director, Portfolio, said more raw materials had already been supplied or ordered as of September 2025 than the total delivered in 2024. Additional agreements with fertilizer raw material manufacturers will ensure nationwide warehouse stocking, guaranteeing blenders access to inputs matching their production capacity.

Data from the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) show steady progress. Since 2022, 48 vessels have delivered critical raw materials for fertilizer blending under the PFI, including 10 vessels in 2025 alone, accounting for over 560,000 metric tonnes of inputs discharged at Nigerian ports. This steady inflow has supported the production of 4.5 million MT of finished fertilizer between 2021 and 2024, and cumulatively 128 million bags of fertilizer since the initiative’s inception.

Dr. Armstrong Takang, MOFI’s Managing Director, stressed that the programme was designed not only to boost volumes but also to shield farmers from global market shocks. He described the PFI as a model of public–private collaboration addressing complex national challenges.

According to the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), blending capacity has grown to over 90 plants nationwide, with a total potential of 13 million MT annually. FEPSAN President, Alhaji Sadiq Kassim, noted that this expansion had improved availability while reducing transportation costs for farmers.

Despite robust supply, stakeholders acknowledged farmer concerns over rising fertilizer prices, attributing them to foreign exchange volatility and global raw material costs rather than local scarcity.

With MOFI set to take over operational management from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in November 2025, PFI 3.0 will focus on year-round nationwide availability, cost efficiency, and stronger traceability to curb hoarding and diversion. A major priority will be boosting local sourcing of inputs to strengthen Nigeria’s agro-industrial base and cut reliance on imports.

The PFI remains a flagship Federal Government programme, committed to providing farmers with timely, affordable, and reliable access to fertilizer while building a more resilient agricultural sector.