UN Deputy Secretary-General urges Nigeria to strengthen fertiliser policies for food security
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, has urged the Federal Government to implement policies that will allow Nigerian farmers to benefit directly from locally produced fertiliser.
Mohammed, who also chairs the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, made this known during an interview in Washington DC while addressing concerns over food security and the limited access to fertiliser among smallholder farmers.
Her comments followed reports indicating that despite the growth of Nigeria’s fertiliser export sector, many local farmers still face challenges due to high costs and inadequate access.
She emphasised that stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector is essential to develop policies that will make fertiliser more affordable and accessible nationwide.
“You have to find a domestic policy that allows for a capacity of production in Nigeria to open that up for farmers,” she said.
Mohammed added that the private sector should be seen as a partner in development, noting that businesses contribute to job creation and revenue generation, and can play a vital role in tackling food insecurity when supported with the right framework.
She also pointed out that Nigeria had previously achieved similar cooperation in the oil sector, suggesting that such a model should be replicated in agriculture.
Her remarks come amid increasing global economic uncertainty driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.