On July 2, 2024, the Innovation Lab for Policy Leadership in Agriculture and Food Security (PiLAF) organized a pivotal stakeholder consultation at the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) in Abuja, Nigeria. The primary goal was to develop the Nigeria Fertilizer Roadmap, a strategic document aimed at guiding the country’s fertilizer industry towards sustainable growth and enhanced agricultural productivity. This consultation was part of the Sustain Africa project, funded by Purdue University and led by the Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI). As a member of ANAPRI, PiLAF played a significant role in this initiative.
Setting the Stage for Fertilizer Industry Transformation
The stakeholder engagement aimed to present the key findings and recommendations from the Sustain Africa project, the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Action Plan, and the 2006 National Fertilizer Policy. The objective was to engage stakeholders in developing a comprehensive and actionable roadmap for the Nigerian fertilizer industry. This roadmap is intended to address critical issues such as increasing fertilizer production, preventing adulteration, optimizing subsidy structures, and balancing production and export strategies.
Diverse Participation for Comprehensive Insights
The consultation featured presentations and discussions facilitated by industry experts and saw the participation of several individuals from various organizations. Some of the organizations that participated include:
- Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS)
- Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF)
- Dangote Group
- Notore Chemical Industries
- OCP Africa
- West African Fertilizer Association (WAFA)
- International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)
- Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)
- Michigan State University (MSU)
- Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
- Niger State University
- Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS)
- Farm Input Support Services (FISS)
- Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI)
- Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Program Overview and Key Discussions
The engagement began with an opening address by Dr. Oyelami Benjamin, PiLAF’s Communication Manager, who outlined the purpose and goals of the Fertilizer Roadmap. Mr. Iredele Ogunbayo, Senior Researcher and Administrative Manager at PiLAF, then presented an overview of the Sustain Africa project, highlighting its relevance and key findings. Dr. Oreoluwa Akano, a Postdoctoral Fellow at PiLAF, followed with a detailed presentation of the documents used in developing the roadmap.
A breakout session ensued, with participants divided into two groups to discuss the challenges and needs of the fertilizer industry. The groups prioritized actions from the presented documents and proposed strategic pathways for the Nigerian fertilizer industry.
Key Issues Discussed
- Addressing Fertilizer Adulteration: One of the primary concerns discussed was fertilizer adulteration. Stakeholders emphasized the need for stringent quality control measures to ensure the integrity of fertilizer products in the market.
- Subsidy Realignment: The discussion highlighted the importance of redirecting subsidies to producers. This realignment aims to enhance production capacity and ensure the availability of quality fertilizers for Nigerian farmers.
- Increasing Local Production: To reduce dependency on imported fertilizers, stakeholders proposed strategies to triple local fertilizer production, focusing on meeting domestic consumption needs.
- Managing Export Balance: Participants underscored the necessity of creating policies that balance export activities with local fertilizer demands, ensuring that Nigerian farmers have adequate access to fertilizers.
- Aligning the roadmap document with policy directions from the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) (2022 – 2027) of Nigeria.
Conclusion
The stakeholder consultation marked a significant step towards developing a comprehensive and actionable Nigeria Fertilizer Roadmap. The insights and discussions provided a solid foundation for aligning and prioritizing actions to address the challenges and opportunities in the fertilizer industry. The roadmap is expected to guide the sector towards sustainable growth, ensuring that Nigerian farmers have access to quality fertilizers necessary for enhancing agricultural productivity and food security.
PiLAF remains committed to fostering collaboration and driving policy innovations that will transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. The development of the Nigeria Fertilizer Roadmap is a testament to this commitment, reflecting a collaborative effort to achieve sustainable agricultural development and food security in Nigeria.