By Faridat Salifu
Nigeria’s Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) has entered a new phase, PFI 3.0, aimed at securing a stable supply of raw materials for blending plants and advancing self-sufficiency in food and industrial crop production.
Executive Director of Portfolio, Tajudeen Ahmed, said recently that more raw materials have been supplied or ordered as of September 2025 than the entire volume supplied in 2024.
He noted that arrangements have been concluded with fertilizer raw material manufacturers to stock warehouses nationwide, ensuring blenders can access inputs in line with their production capacity.
The Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) confirmed that between 2022 and 2025, 48 vessels delivered key raw materials for blending under the initiative.
In 2025 alone, 10 vessels have discharged or are scheduled to discharge cargoes, accounting for more than 560,000 metric tonnes of inputs at Nigerian ports.
Managing Director of MOFI, Dr. Armstrong Takang, said the programme is building a system to shield farmers from global market shocks and strengthen long-term agricultural planning.
He described the PFI as a model of public–private collaboration that addresses complex challenges and supports Nigeria’s capacity for strategic reform.
The initiative has enabled over 4.5 million metric tonnes of finished fertilizer production between 2021 and 2024.
Since its inception, it has facilitated more than 128 million bags of fertilizer delivered directly to farmers across the country.
The Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) confirmed that blending capacity has grown, with more than 90 operational plants now in place.
FEPSAN President, Alhaji Sadiq Kassim, said the plants have a combined blending capacity of 13 million metric tonnes, helping reduce transportation costs and improve access for farmers.
Stakeholders acknowledged that rising fertilizer prices in recent seasons stem from foreign exchange volatility and global raw material costs rather than domestic scarcity.
At the August 2025 Stakeholder Roundtable in Abuja, it was agreed that MOFI will assume operational management of the initiative from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority by November 2025.
The transition is expected to strengthen governance and provide continuity as the programme moves into its next phase.
PFI 3.0 will prioritize nationwide year-round availability, cost efficiency, and stronger traceability to prevent hoarding and diversion.
It will also accelerate local sourcing of inputs to reduce dependence on imports and reinforce Nigeria’s agro-industrial base.
The PFI remains a flagship federal programme designed to give Nigerian farmers timely, affordable, and reliable access to high-quality fertilizer.
