By Majedd Salaam
The availability and affordability of fertiliser remain critical factors in Nigeria’s agricultural productivity, food security and broader economic stability. As global supply chains continue to face disruptions and international fertiliser markets experience volatility, countries dependent on imported raw materials are increasingly under pressure to secure supplies well ahead of planting seasons. Against this backdrop, Nigeria has moved to guarantee fertiliser availability for the 2026 wet farming season through an early procurement strategy that officials say has not only secured adequate supplies but also generated substantial cost savings.
PFI NPK Limited, the implementation vehicle for the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), said recently that it had secured sufficient fertiliser raw materials months before the commencement of the 2026 wet season farming cycle.
According to the company, the early procurement exercise was designed to protect the country from potential shortages and rising prices associated with ongoing disruptions in global fertiliser markets.
Records from the company’s first-quarter 2026 procurement activities show that nine vessels carrying 407,304 metric tonnes of fertiliser raw materials were secured for the programme.
When combined with existing inventory, the available stock rises to 534,219 metric tonnes of raw materials for the production of NPK fertiliser across the country.
The company stated that the procurement strategy generated savings of $43.99 million, equivalent to approximately N61.58 billion, when compared with prevailing international market prices.
The figures indicate that the supplies were secured before subsequent price movements in global markets, allowing the programme to avoid higher replacement costs.
Distribution activities have also commenced ahead of peak farming operations.
According to the procurement records, more than 323,109 metric tonnes of raw materials had been supplied to fertiliser blending plants across the country as of mid-April 2026.
In addition, over 198,264 metric tonnes had already been distributed ahead of the period when demand from farmers typically reaches its highest levels.
The fertiliser supply programme is coordinated through a network of local blending facilities operating under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative framework.
PFI NPK Limited currently supplies raw materials to 94 blending plants registered under the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), supporting domestic fertiliser production and distribution nationwide.
Commenting on the procurement strategy, the Director of PFI NPK Limited, Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang, said that the decision to secure supplies early was taken specifically to reduce Nigeria’s exposure to developments in international fertiliser markets.
“We took a deliberate decision to move early by securing supply, locking in pricing, and putting the necessary financial arrangements in place. That foresight has ensured Nigeria is not exposed to the disruptions currently affecting global fertiliser markets,” he said.
According to Dr. Takang, the intervention is ultimately aimed at ensuring that fertiliser remains available and affordable for farmers when required during the cultivation season.
He added that the strategy was designed to guarantee timely access to fertiliser while reducing the risks associated with supply shortages and price increases.
The development comes as governments and agricultural stakeholders globally continue to monitor supply chain challenges affecting key agricultural inputs. For Nigeria, where fertiliser availability plays a significant role in crop yields and food production, securing raw materials ahead of the planting season forms an important component of broader efforts to support agricultural output and strengthen food security.
With 534,219 metric tonnes of raw materials available for NPK fertiliser production, 323,109 metric tonnes already supplied to blending plants, and more than 198,264 metric tonnes distributed before peak planting activities, the procurement programme has positioned supplies within the domestic production chain ahead of the 2026 wet farming season.
The company maintains that the combination of early procurement, secured pricing arrangements and advance distribution has enabled the country to obtain adequate fertiliser supplies while achieving savings of approximately N61.58 billion compared with current international market prices.
