Nigeria Cuts Fertiliser Imports as Domestic Production Surges
Nigeria cuts fertiliser imports as local production surges, strengthening food security, lowering costs, and supporting farmers nationwide.
Nigeria is entering a new era of agricultural self-reliance as Nigeria fertiliser production surges, reducing the nation’s dependence on imported urea and finished fertilisers. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) confirmed this week that domestic industrial expansion has positioned the country as a regional hub for value-added petrochemicals.
During a facility tour of Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited in Rivers State, NMDPRA Chief Executive Saidu Mohammed highlighted that private-sector investments have scaled production to a point where continued fertiliser imports are no longer economically necessary.
This shift is supported by multi-billion-dollar investments in the sector, including the expansion of the Dangote Fertiliser plant and operational milestones at Indorama Eleme. Nigeria’s annual urea production capacity has now surpassed 6.5 million metric tonnes, with projections indicating the country will achieve full self-sufficiency and emerge as a top urea exporter by 2028.
The initiative is part of the broader “Decade of Gas” program, which leverages Nigeria’s natural gas reserves for domestic industrialization. Saidu Mohammed emphasized that an additional investment of $30 billion to $50 billion is required to develop secondary derivatives of the oil and gas sector, further transforming raw hydrocarbons into high-value agricultural inputs.
The impact of increased domestic fertiliser production is already evident across the agricultural sector. Farmers are expected to benefit from stabilized farm-gate prices, reduced exposure to global currency fluctuations, and access to more reliable supply chains. Nigeria is now poised to surpass Qatar in urea output, with Dangote Fertiliser alone targeting more than 8 million tons annually.
The sector’s expansion has also revitalized over 90 blending plants across 25 states, generating more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. Regulatory reforms by the NMDPRA have played a crucial role in creating an enabling environment for long-term capital investment, while private sector leaders like Munish Jindal of Indorama Eleme note that streamlined regulations have accelerated operational growth and technological upgrades.
In addition to production, the government is launching the Presidential Soil Health Scheme, which aims to optimize fertiliser use through location-specific recommendations for crops such as rice, maize, and yam. This ensures that the fertiliser boom translates into higher crop yields, enhanced food security, and national self-sufficiency.
To complement production growth, authorities are also focusing on logistics and storage infrastructure, aiming to deliver nutrients efficiently to smallholder farmers in remote regions. Projects like the Akwa Ibom fertiliser complex and joint ventures with international partners, including Morocco, are key components of this strategy.
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Within the next two years, Nigeria’s agricultural landscape is expected to shift decisively toward domestic self-reliance, reducing reliance on a $2.2 trillion agricultural import bill and strengthening the nation’s economic independence.