Nigeria is expected to begin exporting urea by 2028 as expanding production capacity and private-sector investments position the country to become a net exporter of fertiliser products, according to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The authority’s Chief Executive, Saidu Mohammed, disclosed this during an operational tour of the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited facilities in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
He said Nigeria’s abundant gas resources and growing industrial infrastructure make large-scale urea exports achievable within the next two years.
Mohammed said ongoing expansions at major fertiliser plants, including Indorama and the Dangote Fertiliser facility, will significantly boost domestic output, eliminate the need for imports and create surplus volumes for export.
He described urea and other fertiliser products as critical value-added outputs capable of strengthening the economy and supporting agricultural productivity.
He noted that while the midstream sector offers vast opportunities, it remains capital-intensive and requires sustained investment.
According to him, between $30 billion and $50 billion is needed to fully develop Nigeria’s midstream oil and gas infrastructure and support its emergence as a regional hub for petroleum-based derivatives and fertiliser products.
The visit formed part of a three-day regulatory engagement aimed at assessing operational readiness, infrastructure capacity and compliance across key midstream and downstream facilities.
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Mohammed said similar inspections and engagements would continue across the country to promote efficiency, attract investment and ensure sustainable sector growth.
Industry executives at the facility welcomed the visit, describing it as an important step in strengthening collaboration between regulators and operators while providing clearer insight into policy direction and regulatory expectations.
Nigeria’s planned entry into the global urea export market aligns with broader efforts to diversify the economy, expand non-oil exports and increase foreign exchange earnings through manufacturing and value-added production.