FG to clamp down on fake fertilizer producers

Fake fertilizer producers will have to discard their criminal trade or else they would soon have their days in the dock as the federal government has vowed to henceforth clamp down on them.

This is coming on the heels of the alarms raised by some farmers over the damages the fake fertilizers have done to their farmlands and produce.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Sony Echono, disclosed this in Abuja at the launch of ‘Establishment and Implementation of Fertilizer Quality Control System in Nigeria.’

Echono, who was represented by Director, Federal Fertiliser Department, Akinbobola Osho, at the event said already that there was a Fertiliser Bill before the National Assembly and it has provisions for clamping down on the perpetrators.

He expressed optimism that it would soon be passed into law so that offenders could be punished according to the law.

Read also: Pastor, Mallam jailed for fertilizer fraud

His words “It has become necessary for the ministry to embark on this initiative 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.

“In this regard, the obligation of the Government under the policy statement is to ensure and enforce quality control of fertiliser 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 to undertake periodic quality control at the fertilizer production plants, ports of discharge and market outlets Fertilizer samples to be drawn by inspection officials for laboratory analysis.

“Penalty to be imposed on relevant aspects of the framework, such offences include but are not limited to plant nutrient deficiencies, misbranding, adulteration, short weight of bags, bagging quality, operating without certificate of registration or with expired certificate of registration.

“The Ministry is serious on regulation of production, distribution and use of fertiliser products across the country. Some fake fertiliser producers were arrested in Minna, Niger State, following the unwholesome business of selling the product to farmers. This case is being handled by the Nigerian Police as criminal one right now. NAFDAC and SON will be the agencies to test fertilisers produced in the country when the Fertiliser Bill is passed into law”.

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