Nigerian Leaders Praised by Reduction of Fertilizer Costs for Farmers

Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, in his speech at the Fertilizers Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), emphasized the efforts that were made to curb the expense of fertilizers for Nigerian farmers by fifty percent as a strategic move towards ensuring national food security. According to Nigerian officials, this has become possible due to the recent donation of 33,000 metric tonnes of Potash by Russia’s Uralchem Group and UN Partners to the Federal Government. The move was arranged in collaboration between the Nigerian government, Uralchem Group, and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Senator Shettima, quoting President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to this effort, conveyed that there are no ulterior motives behind the endeavor, besides the successful reduction of fertilizer costs for farmers. Addressing the prevailing concerns about food security, Shettima underscored President Tinubu’s prioritization of this vital national objective, a stance reaffirmed by the declaration of a state of emergency in the food security sector in July.

“The Nigerian populace is our focal point. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a strong desire to alleviate the financial burden of fertilizers on Nigerian farmers,” Shettima stated, emphasizing the President’s empathetic stance toward achieving food self-sufficiency. The Vice President underscored the transparent and equitable distribution of the donated potash, asserting that the end beneficiaries, Nigerian farmers, are at the heart of this initiative.

Distribution of donated fertilizers will be managed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), WFP, and commodity exchange firm AFEX, which are equipped with the necessary databases and tools to effectively deliver the potash to farmers. This collaboration, coupled with the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, aims to achieve the strategic goal of bolstering agricultural productivity and ensuring food security for the nation.

Source: Vanguard News