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Nigeria may face widespread food shortages despite the ongoing surge in fertiliser production and distribution, the Business and Climate Intelligence Think Initiative (BACITI) has warned.

In its latest Economic Insight report, the policy research group cautioned that the country’s agricultural output could plunge if structural challenges, such as high input costs, climate shocks, and poor smallholder access to fertiliser, are not urgently addressed.

BACITI noted that the apparent ‘fertiliser boom’ masks deeper inefficiencies in Nigeria’s food production chain, raising fears that the nation could be heading toward a paradox of plenty, where industrial growth fails to translate into improved yields or food security.

According to the September 2025 edition of the report, published by the Bashir Adeniyi Centre for International Trade and Investment (BACITI), Nigeria has rapidly emerged as a major fertiliser producer, joining global players like Indorama, Notore, and Dangote Group in driving fertiliser exports across Africa and other continents.

Dangote’s recent $2.5 billion investment in a new three-million-ton-per-year fertiliser plant in Ethiopia was cited as a major milestone that positions Nigeria as a global hub in fertiliser production.

However, beneath this industrial success lies what BACITI calls a ‘fertiliser-food paradox.’ Despite abundant fertiliser capacity, Nigeria continues to grapple with chronic food shortages and rising prices.

The report highlights that while Nigerian fertiliser is being shipped to the United States, Brazil, and India, domestic consumption remains extremely low due to high costs, weak distribution systems, and limited access to credit for smallholder farmers.

BACITI’s analysis shows that Nigeria produced about 3.46 million metric tonnes of urea fertiliser in 2022, up 28 percent from the previous year, but only 1.6 million tonnes were consumed locally, representing just 20 percent of total production.

In contrast, countries like Brazil and India record fertiliser use several times higher per hectare, leading to significantly better crop yields.

The think tank linked this underutilisation to Nigeria’s worsening food inflation and trade deficit.

By December 2024, headline inflation had climbed to 34 percent, with food inflation peaking at 39.84 percent, the highest in nearly three decades.

Prices of staples such as rice, maize, yams, and bread rose sharply, driven by fuel subsidy removal, currency devaluation, and supply bottlenecks. Despite vast arable land and a favourable climate,

Nigeria spent an estimated $10 billion on food imports in 2023 alone, including $3 billion on grains.

Data in the report show that agricultural imports were valued at $6.6 billion in 2023, compared with just $2.3 billion in exports.

This imbalance, BACITI noted, undermines food security and exerts severe pressure on the country’s foreign reserves.

By comparison, Brazil recorded an agricultural trade surplus more than ten times Nigeria’s, while Egypt narrowed its food trade deficit through policy reforms and export diversification.

Ghana, once a net exporter, fell into deficit in 2023 following a decline in exports.

Placing Nigeria’s challenges in a global context, BACITI observed that feeding an estimated nine to ten billion people by 2050 will require a 60-70 percent increase in food production, much of which must come from developing countries.

Yet Sub-Saharan Africa remains hampered by low productivity, with average cereal and maize yields just half those of India and one-fifth of the United States.

Nigeria typifies this constraint, as low fertiliser use, weak irrigation systems, poor mechanization, and limited adoption of improved seeds continue to suppress yields.

Rather than improving productivity, Nigeria’s agricultural expansion has relied heavily on land clearing, often at the expense of forests and savannahs, without achieving food self-sufficiency. BACITI warns that this approach is unsustainable and could deepen food insecurity despite the country’s abundant natural resources.

To reverse the trend, the report draws lessons from two agricultural success stories, Brazil and India.

Brazil’s transformation, it notes, is rooted in decades of investment in research, mechanisation, and logistics, yielding $164.4 billion in agricultural exports in 2024.

India, on the other hand, achieved food self-sufficiency through the Green Revolution of the 1960s, combining irrigation, high-yield seed varieties, and fertiliser adoption to become one of the world’s largest producers of rice and wheat.

BACITI recommends that Nigeria adopt a hybrid model, leveraging Brazil’s industrial efficiency and India’s focus on smallholder productivity to build a sustainable agricultural system that ensures both self-sufficiency and global competitiveness.

The report further calls for critical reforms across the agricultural value chain, including improved fertiliser distribution, expanded mechanisation and irrigation, and investment in post-harvest infrastructure such as storage and transport.

It advocates the creation of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones to boost value addition and reduce waste, alongside strengthened research and extension services.

Other key enablers identified include harmonised trade policies, secure land tenure, and access to affordable finance. The think tank also highlights investment opportunities in fertiliser blending, farm equipment manufacturing, solar-powered irrigation, agri-tech platforms, cold-chain logistics, and food processing ventures.

Targeted credit and insurance products for smallholder farmers and cooperatives, it added, could drive inclusive growth and accelerate Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.

BACITI stated that Nigeria must begin to treat food as ‘the new crude.’ Just as the country leveraged oil to industrialise, it must now harness agriculture to ensure food security, diversify exports, and position itself as a global food supplier.

‘The future of Nigeria’s economy, depends not only on what it extracts from the ground but on what it grows from its soil’, the report asserts.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has dismissed claims that he is being positioned by some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, Lere Olayinka, Wike’s senior special assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, described the report as ‘another lie from idle minds who have nothing to contribute to the country’s development.’

Olayinka said the story, published by an online platform, was a failed attempt to drag Wike into needless political controversy.

‘The report, circulated by a platform known for falsehood and blackmail, which claimed that PDP leaders held a meeting to ‘push’ Wike to contest in 2027, is a fabrication by idle minds,’ the statement said.

Olayinka stressed that Wike’s position is clear: he supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu until 2031.

He added that Wike is not someone who operates in secrecy.

‘He says what he does and does what he says. It’s unfortunate that those behind this campaign can’t think beyond cheap tactics. Clearly, they need better minds to guide them.’

Olayinka reiterated that Wike has made his stance on the 2027 election known, he stands with President Tinubu.

Responding to the report of a supposed PDP meeting, Olayinka clarified that the only meeting held on August 20, 2025, involved southern PDP stakeholders and had nothing to do with endorsing Wike for the presidency.

‘That meeting was convened to discuss a proposed gathering in Lagos on August 21, 2025, where some individuals planned to formalise the micro-zoning of party positions already allocated to the South,’ he explained. He said the outcome of the meeting was released publicly in a statement titled, ‘Re: Purported Meeting Of PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit’, signed by several PDP leaders from the South-East and South-South, including state party chairmen, lawmakers, and former officials.

Signatories included Austin Nwachukwu (Imo), Abraham Amah (Abia), Barr. Venatius Ikem (Cross River), Rt. Hon. Aniekan Akpan (Akwa Ibom), and Aaron Chukwuemeka (Rivers), as well as Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck(National Vice Chairman, South-East) and Hon. O. K. Chinda (Minority Leader, House of Representatives).

Also listed were Senators Igwe Nwagu, Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo, Mike Ama Nnachi, former National Secretary Rt. Hon. Onwe S. Onwe, Deputy National Legal Adviser Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, and former Ebonyi State Legal Adviser Barr. Mudi Erhenede, among others. Olayinka emphasised that the names were taken from a widely circulated press statement, published in major newspapers and aired on national television, proving there was no secret agenda.

‘We understand their motive. But the FCT Minister’s character is known – he doesn’t operate in secrecy.’

He reaffirmed Wike’s commitment to President Tinubu’s political and development agenda.

‘He has clearly stated that he stands with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu through 2031.’

Olayinka added that Wike will continue to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda in the FCT, aligning with the President’s vision of a capital city that meets global infrastructure standards.

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has raised concerns over the growing shortage of qualified professionals in Nigeria’s aviation industry, revealing that the government has had to recall and retain retired personnel to fill critical gaps in the sector.

Keyamo made this known on Friday in Abuja during the unveiling of the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), Africa’s first privately owned university dedicated to aeronautics and management education.

According to the minister, the establishment of IBUAM is both timely and strategic, aligning with the federal government’s ongoing efforts to develop local capacity, enhance technical expertise, and reduce reliance on expatriate professionals in the aviation industry.

‘I want to say that we are short-staffed in certain parts, in certain areas in aviation, and even Zaria was struggling in those particular areas. And one is air traffic controllers. I just want to make it clear that we are short-staffed in terms of air traffic controllers.

‘They are trained as skilled professionals and it’s very difficult to produce them. And so we have the option now of even retaining those who are retired, extending their tenure, bringing them back on contract terms for them to serve us. So we expect that you concentrate in those areas where we are short-staffed.

‘If you look at it, it’s actually complementing the federal government. It’s not competing with us,’ Keyamo said

He noted that the federal government, earlier in the year, granted a licence to IBUAM as Nigeria’s first private university of aeronautics, emphasising that the institution will play a key role in addressing workforce shortages across the continent.

‘African aviation is the fastest-growing sector among all industries on the continent. In the next few years, Africa will be looking for professionals, pilots, aeronautical engineers, and air traffic controllers. We must be ahead of these dynamics, and this university could not have come at a better time,’ the minister added.

Isaac Balami, founder and chancellor of the university, said the institution was conceived as a response to the projected rise in demand for aviation professionals across Africa, as estimated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Balami noted that the university would provide both theoretical and practical training through partnerships with industry regulators, maintenance facilities, and international aviation bodies, ensuring that graduates are technically proficient and globally competitive.

He said IBUAM’s model integrates academic learning with practical exposure to flight operations, maintenance, and management, allowing students to graduate with not only degrees but also professional licenses and certifications.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the deportation of 192 foreign nationals convicted for cyber-terrorism, internet fraud, and other financial crimes in Lagos.

According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, the deportation exercise was carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), following the conclusion of legal and correctional processes.

‘The final batch of 51 convicts, comprising 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian was repatriated on Thursday, October 16, 2025.

‘This brings to a close the deportation operation that began on August 15, 2025, when the first batch of 42 convicts, made up of Chinese and Filipino nationals, was sent back to their countries. Subsequent groups were deported in phases throughout August and September.

‘In total, the 192 convicts included nationals from China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Timor-Leste.

‘All were sentenced by the Federal High Court in Lagos after being found guilty of cybercrime, money laundering, and Ponzi scheme-related offences’, the statement read.

The EFCC disclosed that the mass deportation followed a sting operation conducted on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, during which 759 suspects were arrested. Investigations by the Commission, revealed that the convicts were part of a sophisticated cyber syndicate operating under the cover of Genting International Co. Limited, a company allegedly used as a front for large-scale online fraud, identity theft, and Ponzi scheme operations.

The Commission noted that the offenders worked alongside Nigerian accomplices and were responsible for training recruits and managing fraudulent digital platforms that targeted victims both locally and internationally. According to the EFCC, the entire operation, from arrest and prosecution to conviction and deportation was executed in line with due process and court directives.

‘The Nigeria Immigration Service carried out the deportation as directed by the court, bringing this high-profile cybercrime prosecution and repatriation effort to a successful conclusion,’ EFCC stated.

It reaffirmed its commitment to international cooperation in the fight against cross-border financial crimes, stressing that the deportations send a strong message about Nigeria’s zero tolerance for cyber-enabled criminal activities.

You’ve built your career around helping businesses grow and create jobs. What motivated you to focus on entrepreneurship as a tool for economic empowerment?

My motivation came from experience. I graduated with a third-class degree, something that often closes doors in Nigeria’s job market. My first sales job didn’t just give me employment; it gave me a way to create value, build confidence, and learn how business truly works. That single opportunity changed the trajectory of my life.

I realized that many young people like me only need access, mentorship, and the right skill set to unlock their potential. Entrepreneurship, for me, is that multiplier, it doesn’t just change one life, it creates ripple effects that impact families, businesses, and economies.

ANOCS Consulting and ANOCS Academy have trained thousands across Africa. What gap did you see in the market that inspired their creation?

I saw a major gap between what young graduates were learning and what the job market actually needed, especially in tech and sales. Companies wanted results-driven professionals who could grow revenue, but schools weren’t equipping graduates with those commercial or digital skills. ANOCS was born to bridge that gap.

Through ANOCS Consulting, we help businesses build sales teams that perform. Through ANOCS Academy, we train the next generation of African sales and growth professionals who can thrive in global industries like SaaS, PropTech, FinTech, and HealthTech.

How do you measure the real impact of digital-skills training on job creation and business growth in Africa?

We measure impact in two ways, employability and business results. On one hand, over 70% of our graduates secure jobs within three months of completing our programs.

On the other hand, partner companies report up to 25% increases in sales performance after onboarding ANOCS-trained professionals. To me, that’s the real definition of impact, when learning directly translates into livelihoods and measurable business growth.

You’ve worked across multiple industries like real estate, consulting, technology, and logistics. How have these experiences shaped your approach to business strategy?

Each industry taught me something different about people and performance. Real estate taught me persistence and relationship management. Consulting taught me how to think in systems. Technology taught me the power of data and automation. Logistics taught me to value process and execution.

Today, I bring all of that into ANOCS, we build strategies that are people-centered, data-informed, and execution-focused.

Many startups struggle to scale beyond survival. From your experience, what are the most common mistakes small businesses make when trying to grow?

The first mistake is thinking growth is just about marketing. It’s not. Growth is about structure. Many startups don’t build internal systems early enough, such as processes, sales enablement, or people development, and they eventually hit a ceiling.

The second is underestimating sales. Too many founders build great products but fail to build the commercial engine that sustains them. That’s why ANOCS focuses so much on sales leadership. Without revenue, innovation can’t survive.

You led initiatives that generated significant revenue and built internal talent pipelines. What lessons from that experience still guide your work today?

One key lesson: people are the true growth strategy. Every metric, whether revenue, expansion, or market share, ultimately traces back to the quality of the people driving it.

That’s why ANOCS focuses on developing both skills and mindset. We train professionals who not only hit targets but also think critically, collaborate, and adapt to changing markets.

The partnership model you’ve built with NYSC and business schools across Africa is quite forward-thinking. How important are such collaborations in building a sustainable talent ecosystem?

They’re critical. Africa’s talent challenge is too big for any one organization to solve alone. By working with institutions like NYSC, which mobilizes over 300,000 graduates annually, and business schools such as Strathmore and Lagos Business School, we’re embedding workforce development into existing national and regional systems.

These partnerships ensure sustainability, scale, and credibility. Together, we’re building an ecosystem where education meets employability.

You often speak about innovation and transformation. In your view, what does digital transformation mean for African SMEs in practical terms?

Digital transformation isn’t just about adopting new tools; it’s about adopting new thinking. For African SMEs, it means using technology to remove inefficiency, improve visibility, and make smarter decisions.

Sometimes it’s as simple as moving from spreadsheets to a CRM or automating lead follow-ups. The goal isn’t sophistication; it’s effectiveness. Transformation starts when you stop working harder and start working smarter.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in driving business growth initiatives across different markets, and how have you addressed them?

One consistent challenge is mindset, helping people see that sales is a skill, not luck. Another is infrastructure, especially in under-resourced environments.

We address these by focusing on practical, contextualised training and by leveraging partnerships. I’ve learned that real growth happens when you align vision with collaboration and execution.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for ANOCS and its role in shaping Africa’s workforce over the next five years?

Our vision is to train and deploy 5,000 African sales and marketing professionals into the global workforce within three years, focusing on the tech sector.

Beyond that, we want ANOCS to become the continent’s benchmark for sales excellence, where global companies look first when they need smart, driven talent to grow in new markets. Ultimately, it’s not just about jobs; it’s about redefining Africa’s reputation as a go-to source for world-class talent.

Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Kogi State governor, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains unshakable ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that no opposition merger or political alliance can unseat the president.

Bello made the remark on Saturday in Lokoja, where both President Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo received a formal endorsement for second terms in office.

He said Nigerians should be grateful for having a leader who, in his view, is committed to stabilising the economy and steering the country toward growth.

‘Tinubu has done well since he came on board as President. His efforts so far in stabilising the economy are commendable,’ Bello said. ‘Any merger against President Tinubu by the opposition will never work. It has failed already. Nobody can unseat Tinubu in 2027.’

Bello called on those nursing presidential ambitions to shelve their plans and instead rally behind the president to consolidate on his reforms.

He further urged residents of Kogi State to sustain their support for Governor Ododo, describing his second term as ‘already secured’ given his performance.

In his remarks, Governor Ododo pledged overwhelming support for President Tinubu in the next general election, promising that Kogi would deliver 99 per cent of the votes to the All Progressives Congress (APC). ‘Mr President should have no fear. Kogi belongs to him, and we will turn out in our thousands to vote for him,’ Ododo said.

The governor commended Tinubu for extending federal appointments to indigenes of the state, noting that Kogi would ‘reciprocate the gesture when the time comes.’ On his administration’s achievements, Ododo highlighted ongoing investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and water supply, adding that more projects would be delivered before the end of his first term.

The endorsement event was attended by key political figures including senator Smart Adeyemi, members of the National and State Assemblies, and Prince Matthew Kolawole, former Speaker of the Kogi House of Assembly.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has unveiled a 21-player squad for Nigeria’s 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying clash against Benin Republic.

The two-legged encounter will determine which team secures a place at the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco, which also serves as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Madugu’s squad features a strong blend of experience and youth, led by team captain Rasheedat Ajibade, recently crowned Player of the Tournament at the last WAFCON, which Nigeria won in Morocco.

The PSG forward also found the net in her club’s UEFA Women’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid on Thursday night. Also included are goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Africa’s Goalkeeper of the Year for two consecutive years; defenders Michelle Alozie, Ashleigh Plumptre, and Osinachi Ohale; midfielders Jennifer Echegini, Christy Ucheibe, and Deborah Abiodun; and forwards Asisat Oshoala, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Esther Okoronkwo, and Folashade Ijamilusi.

Nigeria will play the first leg against Benin at the Stade Kégué in Lomé, Togo, as Benin does not have a CAF-approved venue. The return leg is scheduled for the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The Super Falcons, ten-time African champions, will be aiming to maintain their dominance on the continent and book their ticket to Morocco as they begin another journey toward WAFCON glory and World Cup qualification.

Six persons have been confirmed dead while 14 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal motor accident that occurred at the weekend along the Nkalagu axis of the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.

The accident, which happened close to the Nkalagu overhead bridge, involved a commercial Toyota bus and a truck.

Henry Igwe, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi State, confirmed the incident. He said 22 people were involved in the crash, attributing it to dangerous overtaking.

Igwe disclosed that the victims were immediately evacuated to nearby hospitals for treatment.

According to him, ‘Some of the injured victims were taken to Annunciation and Orthopaedic Hospitals in Enugu by our officers and the Red Cross, while others were taken to the General Hospital, Ezzamgbo, in Ebonyi State.’ A resident of Nkalagu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the Enugu-Nkalagu Expressway as ‘the most dangerous road to ply,’ blaming its design and poor construction for the recurring accidents.

He said, ‘The road is very dangerous because of its one-way nature and the hard concrete central demarcation, which doesn’t allow vehicles to manoeuvre or dodge reckless drivers. Since 2019 when former Governor David Umahi began the dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway with a flyover at Nkalagu junction, the 1km stretch from the Enugu-Nkalagu boundary to the junction has remained incomplete and blocked.

‘The central demarcation worsens the situation, leaving vehicles with no option during emergencies. Hardly a month passes without an accident on this road. Residents living across the expressway struggle to access their homes due to the blockade.’

He lamented the repeated loss of lives on the axis, calling on the federal and state governments to expedite action on the completion of the project to prevent further tragedies.