By Abbas Nazil
Nigeria has secured adequate fertiliser supplies for the 2026 wet season and saved an estimated ₦61.58 billion through an early procurement strategy implemented under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, according to PFI NPK Limited.
The company disclosed that it secured more than 534,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser raw materials before recent global market disruptions triggered price increases and supply concerns in several countries across Africa.
According to procurement and shipment records released by the company, a total of 534,219 metric tonnes of raw materials were made available for fertiliser production through the acquisition of nine vessels carrying 407,304 metric tonnes, alongside opening stock balances for the 2026 cycle.
The development comes as escalating tensions affecting key international shipping routes continue to drive up freight costs and increase prices of major fertiliser inputs, including Granular Ammonium Sulphate, Diammonium Phosphate and Muriate of Potash.
PFI NPK Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and the implementation vehicle for the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, said its decision to secure supplies months ahead of the planting season protected Nigeria from the market volatility currently affecting global fertiliser markets.
The company reported that more than 323,109 metric tonnes of raw materials, equivalent to about 6.5 million bags of 50kg fertiliser, had been released to registered blending plants across the country as of mid-April 2026.
It added that over 198,264 metric tonnes, representing approximately four million 50kg bags, had already been distributed ahead of the peak planting season, indicating active movement of fertiliser inputs to farmers nationwide.
Director of PFI NPK Limited, Dr Armstrong Ume Takang, said the procurement strategy was deliberately designed to shield Nigerian farmers from external shocks and rising global prices.
He stated that the company moved early to secure supplies, lock in favourable pricing and establish the necessary financial instruments before market pressures intensified.
According to him, the foresight enabled Nigeria to avoid the disruptions currently affecting fertiliser supply chains in many parts of the world.
Financial records reviewed by the company showed that the early procurement programme generated savings of about $43.99 million, equivalent to approximately ₦61.58 billion, compared to prevailing international market prices.
A breakdown of the figures showed that Granular Ammonium Sulphate was purchased at $228 per metric tonne compared to the current market rate of $343.
Diammonium Phosphate was secured at $775 per tonne against a prevailing price of $950, while Muriate of Potash was obtained at $400 per tonne compared to the current market value of $430.
The company noted that fertiliser availability and affordability remain critical to agricultural productivity and food security in Nigeria, especially amid growing pressure on global input costs.
PFI NPK currently operates a centralised bulk procurement and distribution model that supplies raw materials to 94 registered blending plants under the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria.
The company said it does not import finished fertiliser products, ensuring that all NPK fertiliser production takes place within Nigeria to support local industry, create value and strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity.
In 2025, PFI NPK delivered 648,000 metric tonnes of raw materials and is targeting 1.52 million metric tonnes in 2026 as part of plans to expand operations and improve supply coverage.
The company also highlighted governance measures within its supply chain, including oversight by Collateral Management Agents, compliance with regulations of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, as well as operational support from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Dr Takang said the most important outcome of the intervention was ensuring that farmers could access fertiliser when needed and at prices that would not undermine production.
He added that by stabilising supply and reducing exposure to global price shocks at the procurement stage, the initiative was helping to support agricultural production across the country.
Looking ahead, the company said it is pursuing government-to-government partnerships with international suppliers and developing a digital enterprise platform that will provide real-time visibility across procurement, inventory management and nationwide distribution.
An accompanying information sheet released by the company indicated that the early procurement initiative helped secure more than 534,000 metric tonnes of raw materials, facilitated savings of ₦61.58 billion, supplied over 323,000 metric tonnes to blending plants and enabled the distribution of about four million fertiliser bags ahead of the 2026 planting season.
