The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has indicated that fertiliser importation will cease as domestic production capacity expands significantly, positioning Nigeria as a potential export hub for value‑added petroleum products.
The authority’s Chief Executive, Saidu Mohammed, made the announcement during a tour of the Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited facility in Rivers State on January 27, 2026.
Mohammed said the move stems from ongoing investments and expansion activities that have boosted local output of fertilisers such as urea, reducing the economic case for continued importation.
He added that Nigeria is now on course to begin exporting urea by 2028, reflecting the country’s growing capacity in the midstream and downstream oil and gas sector.
The facility tour was part of a three‑day inspection of selected oil and gas infrastructure aimed at assessing progress and identifying opportunities to support local production of key derivatives.
Mohammed emphasised that a strong midstream sector is critical to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a regional centre for value‑added products but noted that substantial investment remains necessary to fully realise this objective.
“Value‑added products like fertilisers and urea are things Nigeria has no business importing,” Mohammed said, underscoring the government’s policy direction toward self‑reliance in agricultural inputs and petroleum derivatives.
He estimated that Nigeria will be exporting, rather than importing, these products within the next 24 months.
The anticipated end of fertiliser imports aligns with broader efforts to strengthen domestic production capacity, reduce foreign exchange outflows, and support food security. Public and private sector stakeholders have been pushing for enhanced local fertiliser manufacturing to meet growing agricultural demand and lower the cost of farm inputs for Nigerian farmers.
Domestic fertiliser production expansion is also boosted by initiatives like the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI), which has significantly increased the number of operational blending plants and improved the availability of fertiliser across the country, albeit under the stewardship of different government bodies over time.
Industry analysts say that ending fertiliser importation could help conserve foreign exchange, strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, and support rural economic development.
However, they note that for sustained impact, local production must be paired with supportive policies to ensure affordability and accessibility of fertilisers for farmers nationwide.
The government’s push to phase out importation reflects a growing emphasis on import substitution and industrialisation, and aligns with broader goals to enhance Nigeria’s economic resilience, reduce dependency on foreign inputs, and position the country as a significant player in regional fertiliser markets.
As domestic production scales up and export plans take shape, the transition away from fertiliser imports is expected to have implications for agricultural input pricing, trade balances, and Nigeria’s role in the global fertiliser supply chain.
