Nigeria will end the importation of fertilisers as expanding private-sector investments reposition the country as a hub for value-added petrochemical products, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said.
The Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Saidu Mohammed, disclosed this during a facility tour of Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Mohammed said Nigeria is on track to begin exporting urea by 2028, driven by rising domestic production capacity and ongoing expansion projects in the fertiliser and petrochemical space.
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The visit formed part of his three-day inspection tour of selected midstream and downstream oil and gas facilities across Rivers State.
According to him, the Federal Government is deliberately positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for value-added petroleum products, with the midstream sector playing a central role in achieving that objective. However, he stressed that significant capital investment remains critical.
“The midstream segment of the oil and gas industry is massive and requires substantial funding,” Mohammed said.
“We need between $30 billion and $50 billion today if Nigeria is to be properly positioned as a hub, not only for oil and gas but also for secondary derivatives.”
He noted that continued importation of fertilisers and urea is no longer justifiable, given the scale of existing and planned investments in local production facilities.
Mohammed cited expansion projects at Indorama Eleme and Dangote Fertiliser as key drivers of increased output, adding that Nigeria is on course to join the league of urea-exporting countries within the next two years.
“Value-added products like fertilisers and urea are things Nigeria has no business importing,” he said.
“With the expansions currently underway, I am confident that within the next 24 months, Nigeria will be exporting urea, which is where we should be.”
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
