NSIA Hands Over 90 Revitalised Fertiliser Blending Plants to MOFI

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has formally handed over 90 fully operational fertiliser blending plants to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI)

This marks the successful transition of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) after nearly a decade of unprecedented growth in Nigeria’s agricultural input sector.

When the Federal Government launched the PFI in 2016, only four blending plants were functional across the country.

Tasked with reviving local production, NSIA’s management of the programme led to an industry-wide transformation that saw the number of active plants increase more than twentyfold in nine years.

This expansion has been a game-changer for the nation’s food security, drastically reducing dependence on imported fertiliser and stabilising prices for millions of Nigerian farmers.

According to a statement on Saturday by the Authority, over the course of its stewardship, NSIA facilitated the delivery of more than 128 million bags of high-quality, locally blended fertiliser to farmers nationwide.

The programme has also been instrumental in generating over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, revitalising rural economies, and enhancing agricultural productivity across all geopolitical zones.

Despite severe global headwinds including COVID-19 disruptions, the Russia–Ukraine war, foreign exchange volatility, and domestic macroeconomic pressures, the PFI maintained steady supply and price stability.

This resilience, NSIA said, was made possible by a coordinated network of government agencies, private sector partners, and farmer cooperatives working in tandem.

In its later years, the initiative underwent a strategic restructuring to ensure long-term viability. This included the adoption of wet blend technology to improve fertiliser quality, targeted expansion into underserved farming communities, and deeper engagement with private investors to strengthen the value chain.

Speaking at the annual PFI Stakeholder Forum in Abuja, NSIA Managing Director and CEO, Aminu Umar-Sadiq, hailed the handover as both a milestone and a celebration of partnership:

“This event is significant because we are honouring nearly a decade of positive impact, strategic partnership, growth, and reform. The PFI is a model of what collaboration between public institutions and the private sector can achieve. We remain committed to partnerships that enhance positive socio-economic outcomes for Nigerians.”

With the transition to MOFI, NSIA will refocus on catalysing impactful investments across strategic sectors, promoting stronger public-private partnerships, and supporting initiatives that deliver measurable economic and social returns.