Nigeria’s Federal Government will no longer be involved in the importation and distribution of fertiliser in the country, Minister of Agriculture Dr. Akinwumi Ayo Adesina has said.
Adesina made this known at the National Assembly at a meeting with Senators serving on the Agriculture Committee.
The Minister said there would no longer be fertilizer contractors because the system where the government imports and distributes fertilizer was ineffective, inefficient and corrupt as only about 11 per cent of the farmers enjoy the subsidy.
The minister said under the new arrangement, fertilizer importers would have to build their own market and sell directly to the farmers.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture would now be decentralised. Six regional offices would be created in each of the geopolitical zones, each headed by a Director.