The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to take immediate action to reduce the cost of fertiliser, warning that soaring prices are threatening food production and national food security.
The motion, sponsored by Hon. Yusuf Galambi, noted that a 50kg bag of urea fertiliser is currently selling for about ₦60,000, a price considered unaffordable for most farmers. Lawmakers stressed the need for swift government intervention to make fertiliser accessible and affordable.
To oversee the implementation of proposed measures, the House assigned the Agricultural Production & Services Committee and the Legislative Compliance Committee to monitor progress and ensure that policies to stabilize fertiliser prices are effectively executed.
Rep Tsanyawa also raised concerns over rising fertiliser costs, recommending the reintroduction of subsidies, increased investment in local fertiliser production, and stricter regulation to prevent hoarding and profiteering.
The Federal Government’s Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) has been a key policy tool in ensuring the availability of fertiliser at reasonable prices. In line with this, the government has imported 560,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser raw materials to support farmers and strengthen food production.
The National Economic Council (NEC) has emphasized the need to reduce fertiliser costs, citing high energy prices particularly gas as a major driver of increased fertiliser prices. Farmers’ associations have warned that prolonged high costs could jeopardize agricultural productivity and worsen food insecurity across the country.
Experts say that reducing fertiliser costs and boosting local production are essential to ensuring sustainable food supply, stabilizing food prices, and protecting smallholder farmers, who are the most vulnerable to input price surges.
The House of Representatives concluded that coordinated action between the government, farmers, and other stakeholders is critical to making fertiliser affordable, accessible, and effective in meeting Nigeria’s food security goals. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
