Two major farmer groups have raised concerns that the Federal Government’s ongoing restructuring of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) could trigger sharp increases in fertiliser prices, threatening smallholder farmers and national food security.
The Coalition of Farmers Association of Nigeria (COFAN) and the Himma Youth Farmers Association of Nigeria (HYFAN) made their position known in a Tuesday statement, stressing the need for a balanced approach to agricultural reforms.
Speaking on behalf of the groups, Dr Abubakar Bamai commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his agricultural policies but warned that disrupting fertiliser supply at this stage would reverse gains recorded under the Buhari-led government.
“Mr President, Nigerian farmers cannot afford a disruption in fertiliser supply at this critical moment. We deeply appreciate your reforms, but we appeal: do not kill the legacy of Buhari’s agricultural transformation on fertiliser access. Sustain raw material importation until Nigeria’s local capacity is ready,” Bamai said.
The farmer groups explained that the PFI, launched under former President Muhammadu Buhari, made fertiliser more affordable by supporting local blending plants by importing raw materials.
According to them, millions of farmers benefited from the scheme, which boosted productivity and strengthened food security.
COFAN and HYFAN urged the Tinubu administration to continue raw material imports until domestic capacity can meet demand, retain the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) as the managing agency for imports, and guarantee stability in pricing during the transition.
They reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Federal Government, private sector players, and development partners to ensure the restructuring strengthens agriculture rather than undermines it.
