The Ebonyi State Government has warned farmers, agro-dealers and other members of the public against the diversion, counterfeiting and adulteration of fertilizer produced by the state-owned Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company.
The warning was issued by Leo Ekene Oketa, Special Assistant to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru on New Media, who said the illegal activities could undermine the government’s efforts to improve agricultural production and boost food security in Ebonyi State.
Oketa, in a statement made available in Abakaliki on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, disclosed that a special task force had been established to monitor the distribution and sale of Ebonyi fertilizer and ensure compliance with government regulations.
He stressed that diverting or adulterating the government’s fertilizer deprives farmers of essential agricultural support intended to increase crop yields.
According to him, the government is particularly concerned about counterfeit products being passed off as genuine Ebonyi fertilizer, noting that such practices damage public confidence and undermine the state’s agricultural intervention programmes.
“For every counterfeit product sold in the name of Ebonyi Fertilizer, the reputation of the genuine product is damaged. And for every government intervention that is diverted, the ultimate objective of increasing agricultural yield and achieving food sufficiency is undermined,” Oketa said.
He explained that the task force was established not only to apprehend offenders but also to protect farmers, government resources and the integrity of the state’s agricultural initiatives.
Oketa urged farmers and members of the public to pay attention to the colour of the bags used for Ebonyi State’s 20-10-10 fertilizer.
He explained that the fertilizer is packaged in green and white bags, with each colour serving a specific purpose.
The green-bagged 20-10-10 fertilizer is meant for free distribution to farmers under the Ebonyi State Government’s agricultural support programme and is not intended for commercial sale.
The white-bagged 20-10-10 fertilizer is the commercial product meant to be sold through agro-dealers and open markets.
According to Oketa, the fertilizer in both bags has the same quality and quantity, while the different colours are primarily used to improve accountability, monitoring and tracking.
He therefore warned that anyone who finds green-bagged Ebonyi fertilizer being offered for sale should regard it as a potential case of diversion and report it to the appropriate authorities.
The statement said the Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company has established a task force comprising company staff, board members, representatives of agro-dealers and security personnel.
The team is responsible for surveillance, monitoring and protecting the integrity of the company’s fertilizer products across the state.
Oketa disclosed that the task force monitors major fertilizer sales locations and works with informants positioned in strategic areas to identify cases of adulteration, counterfeiting, diversion and unauthorised sales.
He said individuals found violating the regulations would be apprehended and subjected to the appropriate legal process.
The development is part of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s broader agricultural intervention strategy aimed at strengthening farming, supporting farmers and improving food production in Ebonyi State.
Oketa also credited the Commissioner for Agriculture, Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku, and the Director-General of the Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company, Dr. Sunday Nwangele, for supporting efforts to revive the state’s fertilizer production sector.
He maintained that the revival of the Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company goes beyond fertilizer manufacturing, as the government is also focused on ensuring that genuine products reach the farmers for whom they are intended.
The government consequently urged farmers and the public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of fertilizer diversion, adulteration or counterfeiting to the relevant authorities.
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