Nigerian Federal government has resolved to go tough on fake fertilizer producers as they have been selling the commodity to unsuspecting farmers who have raised alarm over the damages done to their farmlands and produce. This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, who was represented by Director, Federal Fertilizer Department(FFD), at the official launch of 'Establishment and Implementation of Fertilizer Quality Control System in Nigeria' in Abuja. During the programme launching, the director further said that some traders were selling adulterated fertilizers to farmers, and were handed over to the police, who are handing the case as criminal. The Permanent Secretary further stated that the Fertilizer Bill at the National Assembly has provisions for clamping down on perpetrators and punish them accordingly, and also expressed confidence that the bill would be passed into law by the 8th Assembly. This initiative was supported by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa(AGRA), to develop a regulatory framework for quality checks and enforcement to ensure that farmers access quality fertilizers. Government under the policy statement is to ensure and enforce quality control of fertilizer through the establishment and enforcement of a market-friendly, legal and regulatory framework that is adopted, legislated and implemented by the ministry. Federal Government inspectors will undertake periodic quality control at the fertilizer production plants, ports of discharge and market outlets. Inspection officials can fetch fertilizer samples for laboratory analysis. National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) will be the agencies to test fertilizers produced in the country when the Fertilizer Bill is passed into law. According to FFD’s director, the ministry has embarked on creating public awareness on the quality of fertilizers for farmers to identify the genuine fertilizer from the fake one when they go for purchase. A clear assignment of monitoring and regulatory roles is needed at every stage of fertilizer production and distribution with a broader reach to peri-urban and rural markets.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201509181924.html
http://nssp.ifpri.info/files/2012/05/NSSP-Report-9.pdf