Iran war’s end reveals Nigeria’s fertilizer data gap as planting season peaks

The Iran war, which began on February 28 and ended this June, closed the Strait of Hormuz for months, cutting off about 25% of global crude oil and natural gas flows. Though Nigeria is a major oil producer, the shock pushed up natural gas prices worldwide, more than doubling the cost of urea—a key fertilizer made from gas—according to the World Bank’s fertilizer index.

Agriculture employs roughly 34% of Nigerians, and the main planting season falls in March‑April, exactly when the war was at its height. Higher fertilizer costs could have reduced farmer usage, potentially lowering yields and raising food prices later this year. Yet the National Bureau of Statistics does not track fertilizer prices locally, and no other public source appears to do so, leaving policymakers without vital data to respond to the shock.

Without systematic fertilizer price monitoring, Nigeria risks making policy in the dark. Stakeholders should advocate for regular collection of domestic fertilizer prices, monitor global indices for early warning, and consider measures like targeted subsidies or strategic reserves to protect food security. Will you support calls for timely fertilizer price tracking to help Nigeria navigate future shocks?

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2026/06/18/a-blind-spot-on-fertilizer-prices/