By Ayo Kehinde
Fertiliser prices have surged by about 11 percent just weeks before the planting season, raising fresh concerns that food inflation could accelerate in the coming months as farmers grapple with rising production costs.
Market surveys show that urea, a widely used nitrogen-based fertiliser, has climbed sharply, with a 50kg bag now selling for about ₦36,600, up from roughly ₦33,000 a week earlier. The increase reflects tightening global supply and disruptions to fertiliser trade triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy and fertiliser exports. Several fertiliser plants in the Gulf region, responsible for a significant share of global urea trade, have also been affected, further squeezing supply and pushing prices higher.
Farmers and agricultural groups warn that the rising cost of fertiliser, alongside higher energy and transportation costs, could translate into increased food prices. Many producers say the surge in input costs may force farmers to scale back production during the upcoming farming cycle.
Nigeria’s food inflation had slowed to 8.9 percent in January 2026, down from 25.3 percent in August 2025, offering some relief to households. However, analysts caution that the recent spike in fertiliser prices could reverse those gains if farmers pass higher costs on to consumers.
Experts are urging government intervention, including input subsidies and support for farmers, to prevent the fertiliser shock from triggering another wave of food price increases across the country.
