LAGOS – Sadiq Kassim, President of the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) has said that the nation’s fertilizer production capacity has soared by over 300 per cent since 2017.
Kassim, who is also the Director of Corporate Affairs at the Tropical General Investment (TGI) Group, dropped this hint while speaking during the PFI-NPK Stakeholders Roundtable in Abuja.
Reflecting on the remarkable progress and future goals for the Nigerian fertilizer industry, Kassim emphasized Nigeria’s transformation from a net importer of fertilizers to a leading producer in Africa.
He appreciated the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), that Nigeria has grown from five blending plants in 2016 to over 90 and that alongside three major urea production facilities, it has positioned the country as a leading fertilizer producer in Africa.
According to him, “Thanks to the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), Nigeria has grown from five blending plants in 2016 to over 90 today, alongside three major urea production facilities, positioning the country as a leading fertilizer producer in Africa.
He credited the success to the power of public-private partnerships in driving industrial growth, particularly acknowledging the critical role played by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
Kassim also expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and his administration for their unwavering support of the PFI.
However, he pointed out some of the challenges confronting the industry to include; high production costs, logistical inefficiencies, and foreign exchange volatility.
He framed these challenges as opportunities for innovation and growth, proposing strategic initiatives such as expanding imported raw materials base to include micronutrients, establishing a fertilizer institute, and formalizing NPK trade within the ECOWAS region.
Speaking further he noted that the blending plants are all currently operating at nearly 70 per cent capacity.
He pointed to the expansion in urea production, with significant players such as Dangote and Indorama boosting their output, further solidifying Nigeria’s position as a critical player in the global fertilizer market.
Looking ahead, Kassim expressed confidence in the industry’s ability to meet its ambitious goals.
He said with continued collaboration he is optimistic that the nation’s fertilizer industry is on track to not only meet domestic demand but also position itself as a major exporter within the ECOWAS region and beyond, driving the nation toward a more prosperous and food-secure future.
“With continued collaboration, the Nigerian fertilizer industry is on track to not only meet domestic demand but also position itself as a major exporter within the ECOWAS region and beyond, driving the nation toward a more prosperous and food-secure future,” he concluded.
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