Operators debunk claims as FG threatens shutdown of fertiliser plants

Fertiliser operators in the country have debunked the claims that fertilizer firm­ are sabotaging the national economy and s­ecurity through the export of fertilizer­s at the detriment of­ farmers in Nigeria.

 

The firms claimed that all their domestic supplies to their customers ­so far are in accorda­nce with the approval­ of the Office of the­ National Security Ad­viser (NSA) and the F­arm Input and Supply ­Services (FISS) depar­tment in the Federal ­Ministry of Agricultu­re and Rural Developm­ent.

 

But the Federal Government last week threatened to shut down of any fertiliser plant that denies farmers access while exporting the commodities.

 

The threat issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, following allegations that one of the two big urea plants in Nigeria were producing for export while selling to Nigerian farmers at skyrocketed prices, making affordability and accessibility difficult.

“Two urea plants are big enough to run the Nigerian demands. We know their capacities. But where there are allegations that some people are exporting instead of putting in the Nigerian market, and prices shot to N10, 000 per bag of urea, we became extremely angry with them,”  Ogbeh said.

“There can’t be any priority but the Nigerian market. If there is a surplus, they are free to export. But, unless and until there is a surplus, we can’t sit by and watch people selling fertiliser beyond the shores of Nigeria when the local farmers have nothing to buy. And we are saying the same to others. The priority is the Nigerian market,” the minister added.

According to Ogbeh, “there is a good market. There is no reason to side-track this market and go and create difficulties for farmers, because there is hunger in the land and government is taking the blame. And we are giving every support we can to people who want to manufacture locally; and we will always give. So, we need absolute cooperation from all of them.”

Explaining what the affected firm did recently, Ogbeh disclosed that “they came down some days ago, begging, because we threatened to shut them down. They told me that the bagging machines are from Germany, but that they are malfunctioning. It is not likely. Germans don’t do that. Now, they explain that they have to hire from somebody else. Whichever it is, fertilisers are moving again.”