The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh has said that Boko Haram terrorists are responsible for the sudden rise in the prices of fertilizer in the country.
Ogbeh said the insurgents are using components of fertilizer to make bombs and other explosives, which is the reason for the increase in price.
Ogbeh spoke on Tuesday, at a Special Town Hall Meeting for Youths, organized by the Ministry of Information and Culture in Abuja.
Ogbe stated that fertiliser was being sold for N10,000 per bag because the security agencies placed hold on its distribution.
He said: “Fertiliser came late this year due to security challenges.
“We started moving fertiliser in February to meet up with the farming season but the national security agency stopped us from moving it.
“Over 400 trailer loads of fertilisers were held down in Lokoja for two months because Boko haram were converting urea among other fertilizer component to make bombs.
“It took two and half months to get arrangement from security agencies to escort fertilisers from the factories to the farms.
“We were cut between security problems and food security for the people.”
Ogbe, however, assured farmers that the price will reduce to less than N5,000 in the next planting season.