The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) has announced new steps to guarantee a steady and reliable fertilizer supply for Nigerian farmers in line with President Bola Tinubu’s goal of food sovereignty.
In a statement, Executive Director, Portfolio, Tajudeen Ahmed, revealed that the initiative has entered a new stage called PFI 3.0. This phase is designed to stabilise the supply of raw materials to blending plants across the country and ultimately make Nigeria self-sufficient in crop production for both food and industrial use.
“As of September 2025, more raw materials have already been supplied or ordered than the total supplied in 2024, and additional arrangements have been concluded with fertilizer raw material manufacturers to stock warehouses nationwide. Blenders will have access to as much material as their production capacity can support.
“This is backed by verifiable data and a proven track record by the PFI, bolstering confidence among farmers and agricultural stakeholders,” Ahmed said.
The Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) confirmed in a statement that steady progress has been achieved. “From 2022 to date in 2025, 48 distinct vessels have delivered critical raw materials for fertilizer blending under the PFI.
“In 2025 alone, 10 vessels have already discharged and are expected to discharge cargoes, accounting for more than 560,000 metric tonnes of inputs received at Nigerian ports. This steady inflow is laying the foundation for robust production and ensuring continuity of supply and stability across Nigeria’s fertilizer value chain,” the statement read.
MOFI Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Armstrong Takang, stressed that the focus goes beyond volumes. “We are meticulously building a system that can insulate farmers from global market shocks and instill the confidence needed for 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.”
The PFI said that consistent local production has been sustained, with over 4.5 million MT of finished fertilizer produced between 2021 and 2024. “Cumulatively, since its inception, the PFI has facilitated the production of over 128 million bags of fertilizer, delivered directly to farmers across the country,” it stated.
The Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) also confirmed the positive impact of the initiative. “We have witnessed significant improvement in productive capacity since the PFI’s inception,” said Alhaji Sadiq Kassim, President of FEPSAN.
“The number of operational blending plants has increased to over 90 across the country, giving us a total blending capacity of up to 13 million metric tonnes. This capacity is a critical asset in ensuring fertilizer is consistently available for our farmers, bringing it closer to their farms and reducing transportation costs.”
Industry leaders acknowledged farmers’ concerns about rising prices but clarified that the issue is linked to foreign exchange volatility and global raw material costs, not local scarcity.
To tackle these external challenges, the PFI announced that its third phase, PFI 3.0, was endorsed at the August 2025 Stakeholder Roundtable in Abuja.
“MOFI is set to take over operational management from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) by November 2025. This transition is expected to strengthen governance and provide seamless continuity as the programme enters its next, more ambitious phase,” the statement added.