The Coalition of Farmers Association of Nigeria (COFAN) and the Himma Youth Farmers Association of Nigeria (HYFAN) have appealed to the Federal Government to maintain the importation of fertiliser raw materials until the nation’s local production capacity becomes fully dependable.
Speaking at a joint news conference on Tuesday, September 30 in Abuja, COFAN President, Dr Abubakar Bamai, stressed the need for a balanced policy approach that protects farmers in the short term while supporting the growth of local industries.
He cautioned against imposing a ban on fertiliser raw material imports, warning that such a move could create monopolies, raise costs, and push smallholder farmers to the margins at a critical time for national food security.
Bamai commended President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening food systems but expressed concern over current discussions surrounding the restructuring of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI).
He warned that abrupt policy shifts could erode the progress achieved under former President Muhammadu Buhari, whose fertiliser initiatives enhanced affordability and accessibility for millions of farmers. He urged the Federal Government to involve the Ministry of Finance in managing imports to ensure transparency and stability across the supply chain. COFAN and HYFAN reaffirmed their readiness to collaborate with government and private stakeholders to safeguard farmers’ interests and consolidate national food security gains.