The chairman of the Bauchi State Fertiliser Blending Company, Barr. Kefas Musa Magaji , has revealed the introduction of new packs for fertiliser aimed at tackling the issues of fake fertiliser in circulation in the state.
He commended Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for his unwavering commitment to ensuring fertiliser availability in the state, which is aimed at boosting food security.
Speaking with journalists yesterday in Bauchi, Barrister Magaji explained that the delay in fertiliser production this year was due to the late arrival of raw materials. Disruptions in international supply chains caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict affected shipping logistics.
He disclosed that the production delay created a loophole exploited by some saboteurs, who illegally imported fertiliser and packaged them in state-branded bags, misleading farmers and tarnishing the government’s efforts.
Magaji confirmed that fake fertiliser have been discovered in the market.
He revealed that a trailer suspected of transporting fake fertiliser has already been intercepted, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is currently conducting tests to verify the authenticity of the product.
“If the tests confirm they are fake, the perpetrators will be prosecuted in court for further investigation and legal action,” he stated.
He assured farmers that genuine government-approved fertilisers are currently available for sale at affordable prices, strictly through BASAC outlets.
He added that sales will soon expand to all local government headquarters across the state.
According to him, to prevent future occurrences of counterfeiting, the government has introduced newly coloured fertiliser bags to distinguish original products from fakes.
Barrister Magaji urged the public, especially farmers, to purchase only from official outlets and be cautious to avoid falling victim to fake products circulating in the market.
