…builds over 90 blending plants, delivers 128m bags to farmers
The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has formally begun the transition of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), ending nearly a decade of implementation that transformed Nigeria’s fertiliser industry.
The transition was confirmed at the PFI Stakeholders’ roundtable held weekend in Abuja, which brought together government officials, fertiliser producers, regulators, and other players in the agriculture value chain to mark the shift in operational control.
NSIA will complete its exit by November 2025, with MOFI assuming full management through its subsidiary, MOFI Management Company Limited (ManCo).
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Launched in 2016, the PFI was established by the federal government to address persistent issues in the fertiliser supply chain, including dependence on imports, high prices, and limited access for farmers.
The NSIA was mandated to lead the initiative and has since overseen its growth from just four operational blending plants to over 90 by July 2025.
More than 128 million bags of high-quality NPK fertiliser have been distributed to Nigerian farmers under the programme, according to official figures.
“This event is significant because we are honouring nearly a decade of positive impact, strategic partnership, growth, and reform,” Aminu Umar-Sadiq,
NSIA Managing Director and CEO said.
“The PFI is a model of what collaboration between public institutions and the private sector can achieve.”
Officials say the programme has also contributed to job creation, with more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs reportedly created nationwide since 2016. NSIA said the initiative remained resilient through major global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and foreign exchange volatility.
The NSIA, which co-developed and operated the PFI with the Presidency, reiterated that its role was always intended to be temporary. “All we wanted to do was to show that the business model was workable…to resuscitate a moribund industry, make blenders financially profitable, and hand the sector back to stakeholders,” Umar-Sadiq said.
He added that the two-year transition plan was designed to ensure operational continuity. “Last year, we led and MOFI followed. This year, they lead and we support. By November, they will fully take over.”
Umar-Sadiq also called for stricter enforcement against fertiliser adulteration and misuse of raw materials. “We now need to transition to the era of quality control, with consequences for those who want to shortchange the system,” he said.
He described the expansion of blending plants from four to over 90 as one of the programme’s standout successes, stating: “That is hope for food production in Nigeria. We’ve opened up the sector. We’ve made it profitable for private sector actors and encouraged the government to ban the importation of finished NPK. There’s more to do, but the foundation has been laid.”
Speaking at the roundtable, Armstrong Ume Takang, MOFI CEO said the transition to full MOFI management marks the beginning of “PFI 3.0,” which will now focus on sustainability, traceability, and greater private-sector engagement.
He acknowledged the PFI-NPK programme’s role in transforming Nigeria’s fertiliser ecosystem, from expanding domestic blending capacity to enhancing farmers’ access to quality fertilisers. “But success must never be a disincentive for further progress,” he stressed.
Takang also emphasised the need to combat the ongoing issue of adulterated fertiliser and the diversion of raw materials into the open market. He disclosed that a robust traceability system will be introduced to track raw materials from port or point of production to the blenders and eventually to the farmers.
While acknowledging that food insecurity persists, he described the PFI as a key part of the solution. “The issue of food insecurity is multidimensional. One of the most important aspects is access to affordable, unadulterated fertiliser. Our responsibility within the fertiliser ecosystem is to reduce prices through economies of scale and domestic production, and ensure the quality of what reaches farmers,” he told journalists.
He said with MOFI now assuming control of the initiative, stakeholders will be expected to work toward increasing the efficiency of distribution, improving input quality, and expanding fertiliser access to underserved rural communities.
“The farmers are the last mile, and we must ensure they get the right quality and quantity. We are working to ensure that prices are brought down and that fertilisers that reach them are free of contaminants,” Takang stated.
He further reiterated MOFI’s commitment to scaling the initiative and maintaining collaboration across government and industry stakeholders.
“We’re building on the strong foundation laid by NSIA. By January 2026, we will fully take over operations and begin a new chapter in the fertiliser programme’s development,” he assured.
