Federal Government Distributes Over 80,000 Free Fertiliser Bags to Farmers in South-South Nigeria
The Federal Government has begun distributing 80,640 free bags of fertiliser to smallholder farmers across four South-South states, as part of a nationwide agricultural support programme targeting over half a million farmers before the end of the 2026 farming season.
The initiative is being implemented by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) under its Farm Input Support Programme (FISP), a targeted scheme designed to put subsidized fertiliser directly in the hands of verified farmers growing priority food crops.
The South-South rollout covers Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Edo states. Each state is receiving 20,160 bags of fertiliser, distributed to 5,040 registered farmers with every beneficiary receiving four bags at no cost.
The distribution was unveiled at a ceremony in Calabar on Saturday, June 28, 2026, where NADF’s Executive Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, represented by the Fund’s Head of Investment, Mr Olalekan Alabi, explained the mechanics of the programme.
Nationally, NADF is distributing a total of 515,720 bags of fertiliser across all geopolitical zones of the country.
Why This Is Different From Previous Fertiliser Programmes
One of the most persistent problems with government fertiliser distribution in Nigeria has been diversion, bags meant for farmers ending up on the open market or with middlemen. NADF says it has built safeguards directly into FISP to close that loophole.
Every bag distributed under the programme is manufactured in Nigeria, fully subsidized, and clearly marked “Not for Sale.” More importantly, each bag is linked to a verified beneficiary through a validation and duplication screening process, with full documentation maintained at every stage.
“FISP is a targeted intervention designed to ensure fertiliser reaches verified farmers cultivating priority food crops at the right time, rather than serving as a general distribution exercise,” Ibrahim said.
Independent monitoring and evaluation partners will also assess farm productivity after the season closes, providing data on whether the intervention translated into higher yields on the ground.
1,800 Extension Workers to Be Deployed Next Month
Beyond fertiliser, NADF is preparing to deploy over 1,800 Extension Advisory Workers nationwide in July, with 30 officers assigned to each state. These field officers will work directly with farmers on best practices for fertiliser application, crop management and productivity improvement.
The fund is also finalising a Harmonised Fertiliser Recommendations Manual for Crops in Nigeria — a document that will provide farmers and extension workers with scientifically backed, crop-specific guidelines on how and when to apply fertiliser for maximum yield
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, who was represented at the event by the ministry’s State Coordinator, Sampson George, described the initiative as one that simultaneously achieves three outcomes: direct support for smallholder farmers, increased demand for local fertiliser manufacturers, and improved national food security.
“One programme delivers three gains: support for the farmer, increased demand for local fertiliser producers and improved food security for the nation,” he said.
The programme falls under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which has identified agricultural productivity and food security as priority areas for government investment.
Cross River Governor Backs Transparency in Distribution
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, represented at the ceremony by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, commended NADF for prioritising smallholder farmers, whom he described as the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural economy. He pledged that the state would ensure full transparency in the distribution process to guarantee that every bag reaches a genuine beneficiary.
The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr Johnson Ebokpo, said the FISP intervention complements existing state-level programmes, including the distribution of subsidised mini tractors, improved seedlings, quality seeds and farmer capacity-building initiatives.
Nigeria’s Food Security Challenge
Nigeria’s agricultural productivity has lagged for decades, constrained by limited access to inputs, poor rural infrastructure and inadequate extension services. Smallholder farmers who produce the majority of Nigeria’s food supply are most affected by these gaps.
Programmes like FISP, if properly executed, can directly address the input access problem. The emphasis on traceability, local manufacturing and post-season evaluation suggests a more structured approach than previous interventions. Whether it translates into measurably higher yields will be the real test when the harvest season arrives.
