From Importer to Exporter: Nigeria’s fertiliser Industry booms

Nigeria plans to stop importing fertiliser as local production increases across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Saidu Mohammed, said this during a visit to Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited in Rivers State.

According to him, private companies are expanding fertiliser production, making imports unnecessary. With the expected increase in output, Nigeria is also preparing to start exporting urea by 2028.

Mohammed explained that the visit was part of a three-day inspection of oil and gas facilities in Rivers State.

He said the government is working to make Nigeria a regional centre for value-added petroleum products, such as fertiliser and other gas-based products.

He added that the midstream sector of the oil and gas industry is very important but needs heavy investment. Nigeria, he said, requires between $30 billion and $50 billion to fully develop this sector.

Mohammed noted that continued importation of fertiliser and urea no longer makes sense because of the large investments already being made locally.

He pointed to expansion projects by Indorama and Dangote Fertiliser, which are expected to greatly increase production.

“Products like fertiliser and urea should not be imported anymore,” he said. “With the current expansion projects, Nigeria should begin exporting urea within the next two years.”

He expressed confidence that Nigeria is on track to become one of the world’s urea-exporting countries.