Business
Nigeria secures 449,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser inputs to boost food security
President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigeria has secured more than 449,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser inputs—equivalent to about nine million bags—to support agricultural production and strengthen food security across the country.
The president disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday, describing the development as part of broader measures by his administration to fulfil its commitment to making Nigeria food-secure.
“As of May 2026, more than 449,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser inputs, equivalent to about nine million bags, had been secured, with 10 vessels discharged or in transit,” Mr Tinubu said.
He recalled that upon assuming office, his administration identified food security as a central pillar of its Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We promised to support our farmers, strengthen local production, reduce dependence on imports, and build an agricultural system strong enough to withstand shocks from beyond our borders.
“That promise is being kept,” he said.
Fertiliser procurement challenges
Nigeria has long struggled with fertiliser procurement due to rising raw material costs, supply chain bottlenecks, and product diversion, challenges that have limited access for smallholder farmers who account for a significant share of domestic food production.
To address these concerns, the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari entered strategic partnerships with Morocco in 2016 and Russia in 2019 under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI), managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
The initiative began with a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at reviving dormant fertiliser blending plants and importing discounted phosphate from Morocco. In 2021, the partnership expanded into a $1.3 billion basic chemicals platform designed to support local production of ammonia and fertilisers.
The arrangement increased the supply of raw materials to blending plants, boosted domestic production capacity and reduced fertiliser costs. However, challenges, including diversion and sabotage within parts of the value chain continued to limit access for farmers.
Experts have linked inadequate fertiliser availability to declining agricultural yields, rising food prices and worsening food insecurity.
Nigeria’s food system has come under increasing pressure in recent years due to recurrent flooding, insecurity in farming communities, rising transportation costs following fuel subsidy removal, and broader structural challenges.
According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), about 35 million Nigerians are projected to experience acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season.
Global disruptions
Mr Tinubu said disruptions in global supply chains and rising costs of key fertiliser inputs, worsened by conflict in the Middle East, posed significant risks to countries dependent on imported raw materials.
For Nigeria, he said, the potential consequences included fertiliser shortages, higher input costs, reduced productivity and increased food prices.
“I am pleased to inform you that we moved early,” the president said.
He explained that through the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, now restructured under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), the government strengthened procurement systems, secured critical raw materials, signed forward contracts and improved coordination across the fertiliser value chain.
According to him, these measures helped shield Nigeria’s fertiliser blending industry from the worst effects of global market disruptions.
Mr Tinubu said the government remains on course to deliver a 1.1 million metric tonne fertiliser programme in 2026, equivalent to about 22 million bags.
He added that strategic contracting for key inputs generated savings of N61.58 billion in 2026 alone, helping to keep fertiliser prices relatively affordable for farmers.
Supporting farmers
The president noted that Nigeria currently has more than 90 operational fertiliser blending plants, giving the country the largest blending capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“This capacity means jobs, local production, industrial growth and greater resilience for our food system,” he said.
Mr Tinubu stressed, however, that securing fertiliser inputs and maintaining production capacity would only be meaningful if the products reach farmers on time.
To address this, he said the government launched the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme (RH-FISP) through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).
READ ALSO: Tinubu speaks on power sector challenges, pledges reforms
Under the programme, 515,720 bags of locally produced fertiliser are being distributed to 128,930 smallholder farmers across 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory during the current planting season.
The NADF is also supporting modern agricultural practices through digital extension services, harmonised fertiliser application guidance and targeted interventions for priority crops such as rice, maize, cassava and soybean.
“Our administration will not relent in its efforts to protect farmers, raise productivity, strengthen the agricultural value chain, support local industry and ease pressure on food prices over time,” Mr Tinubu said.
“This is the meaning of promise made, promise kept. We will continue to take practical steps to strengthen Nigerian agriculture and protect food security for every Nigerian.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, against the judgment of Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja, finding it liable for defaming former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye over a social media publication of an alleged $6billion Mambilla Power Project fraud.
The Notice of Appeal was filed on Friday, July 10, 2026 by counsel to the EFCC, Wahab Shittu, SAN.
In the appeal contained in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024, the EFCC expressed dissatisfaction with the “whole of the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, Coram: Hon. Justice Peter O. Kekemeke, delivered on the 8th day of July, 2026….”
Specifically, the appeal was hinged on 11 grounds and four different orders. The orders the Commission is seeking in the appeal, are orders allowing the appeal, setting aside the whole of the judgment, dismissing Agunloye’s claim before the trial court in entirety and any other order the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of the appeal.
Justice Kekemeke had declared in his judgment that the EFCC’s publication on Agunloye was false, defamatory and injurious to the former Minister’s reputation and awarded N10 million in damages against the Commission.
Shittu, in the appeal, also filed a stay of execution of the judgment of the trial court.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.
Business
CCTV Footage: Keyamo demands apology, N25,000 fine from Peter Obi over airport parking claim
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has demanded a public apology from the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over claims that his vehicle was “unjustly” clamped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, describing the allegation as false.
Mr Keyamo, in a statement posted on his X page on Friday, also asked Mr Obi to pay the N25,000 fine prescribed for violating airport parking regulations, warning that failure to do so within one week could lead to further action by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The minister said he ordered an internal investigation after Mr Obi alleged that the incident formed part of a broader campaign of political persecution against him.
According to Mr Keyamo, CCTV footage from the airport showed that Mr Obi’s vehicle was parked unattended for about 30 minutes in a designated drop-off zone, contrary to airport regulations.
“Politics aside, every Nigerian is entitled to fair treatment under the law,” the minister said.
He added that, “I therefore instituted an internal inquiry over the issue.”
Minister disputes Obi’s account
Mr Keyamo said the footage showed that Mr Obi arrived at the airport on 4 July at about 8:28 p.m. and entered the terminal with two other occupants after alighting from the vehicle, which was being driven by a police officer.
According to him, the police officer also left the vehicle unattended after briefly returning to collect an item, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres.
He said the officials were unaware the vehicle belonged to Mr Obi when they carried out the enforcement action.
The minister further alleged that after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, the police officer contacted Mr Obi by telephone and handed the phone to an airport manager.
Mr Keyamo claimed Mr Obi identified himself and requested the release of the vehicle, which was eventually released without payment of the prescribed fine.
He argued that leaving a vehicle unattended in a drop-off zone constitutes a security risk, particularly at an international airport.
“What has emerged from this is a clear case of an opposition candidate trying to whip up unnecessary sentiments for a wrong he committed with his driver,” Mr Keyamo said.
He dismissed Mr Obi’s claim that other improperly parked vehicles were ignored, describing the allegation as false.
Demands
The minister said Mr Obi should publicly apologise to airport personnel whom he accused of persecuting him while carrying out their lawful duties.
He also asked the former Anambra governor to return to the airport voluntarily and pay the N25,000 penalty for wrongful parking.
“If these demands are not met within one week, I will be giving the necessary directives to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take the next steps against him,” Mr Keyamo said.
Background
Earlier, Mr Obi, during an appearance on the With Chude podcast last week, alleged that he might not survive to contest the 2027 presidential election, citing what he described as a pattern of harassment against him and his associates.
Among the incidents he referenced was the airport episode, where he claimed his vehicle was clamped while other vehicles parked in the same area were left untouched. He also alleged that some of his associates had become reluctant to publicly associate with him for fear of government reprisal.
READ ALSO: Presidency reacts to Peter Obis safety concerns
The Presidency rejected the allegations, with President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, saying the airport incident stemmed from a breach of parking regulations rather than any act of political persecution.
Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress in December 2025 and is now the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
As of the time of filing this report, Mr Obi had not publicly responded to Mr Keyamo’s demands.
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