ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian farmers have called on the Federal Government to subsidise fertiliser and implement stronger security measures in farming communities, warning that rising input costs and persistent insecurity are threatening agricultural productivity and driving up food prices across the country.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has urged the government to provide subsidies on all farming inputs, particularly fertiliser, in the short term to enable farmers to sustain production. AFAN President Ibrahim Kabir noted that Nigerian farmers are competing unfairly with subsidised food from importing countries, resulting in loss of jobs and productivity in the agricultural sector.
The appeal comes amid ongoing federal efforts to boost agricultural productivity. President Bola Tinubu has assured that the government remains on course to deliver a 1.1 million metric tonne fertiliser programme in 2026, equivalent to about 22 million bags nationwide, despite global supply disruptions triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. As of May 2026, more than 449,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser inputs, equivalent to approximately nine million bags, had already been secured.
The government has implemented strategic contracting arrangements that generated savings of ₦61.58 billion in 2026, helping to moderate costs and improve affordability for farmers. Through the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) restructured under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Nigeria has strengthened procurement systems, secured critical raw materials, and protected local fertiliser blending plants from global supply chain disruptions.
Nigeria now has more than 90 operational fertiliser blending plants, giving the country the largest blending capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme is currently distributing 515,720 bags of locally produced fertiliser to 128,930 smallholder farmers across 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Despite these initiatives, farmers insist that more needs to be done. Beyond fertiliser subsidies, agriculture experts have called on the government to address worsening insecurity and encourage year-round production through irrigation infrastructure. Climate change has been altering the farming cycle in Nigeria, with erratic rainfall, flooding, droughts, and longer dry spells making farming increasingly uncertain.
Data from the International Disaster Database shows that 21.9 million people were severely affected by Nigeria’s worst climate change impact in 2022, which caused 603 deaths and significant economic damage. Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently, greatly impacting food production across the country.
President Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting farmers, strengthening agricultural value chains, supporting local production, and easing food inflation over time. He noted that securing inputs and keeping blending plants active is only the first step, adding that “the real test is last-mile access — getting fertiliser to the farmers who need it, when they need it.”
However, farmers and agricultural experts argue that without decisive action on insecurity and input subsidies, Nigeria’s food security challenges will persist, and the benefits of fertiliser distribution programmes may not be fully realised at the grassroots level.
