The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has said plans are underway to commence the distribution of 2.15 million bags of fertilizer donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
However, distribution was delayed due to concerns over the quality of the fertilizer, with allegations that some may have expired.
According to sources within the ministry, the fertilizers are leftover products from the former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele’s Anchor Borrower Programme. The ministry is conducting checks to ensure the fertilizers are still usable before distribution.
On his part, Abana Waziri Abba, Director of Farm Input Supply Services, confirmed that samples of the fertilizer were sent to three laboratories for analysis to verify their quality. The results indicated that the fertilizers were still in good condition, with minor issues, and safe for farmers to use.
Once the quality was confirmed, the ministry planned to distribute the fertilizer zone-by-zone across the country. However, the exact distribution method was not specified.
The donated fertilizers consist of various blends valued at over N100 billion, with a total of 2.15 million bags weighing 50 kilograms each. These include NPK 20-10-10, NPK 27-13-13, NPK 15-15-15, UREA, and SSP.
Under the leadership of the current CBN governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the bank has shifted its focus away from direct interventions in the agriculture sector. Instead, it chose to partner with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for distribution, aiming to enhance food productivity and security while curbing food inflation.
The CBN emphasized that the fertilizer donation is intended to support Nigerian farmers and should be distributed to them free of charge. With the rainy season underway, experts have stressed the importance of early distribution to avoid affecting farmers’ productivity.
