The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s deteriorating soil health, warning that urgent reforms are needed to protect food production, urban development and environmental stability.
Speaking at the World Soil Day commemoration in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, described soil health as the “frontline of food survival,” noting that it produces 95% of the food Nigerians consume. Despite this, 33% of the country’s soils are already degraded, he said, adding that restoring even 2–3 centimeters of lost soil can take up to 1,000 years.
Government Expands Sustainable Farming Practices
Abdullahi highlighted several ongoing efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture and improve soil fertility. These include:
Crop rotation
Agroforestry
Conservation agriculture
Organic soil amendments
Reduced tillage
He noted that the recently launched Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme, which began with 600 farmers and partners, now provides location-specific fertilizer guides aimed at reducing waste and cutting production costs.
The plan also includes establishing 774 soil laboratories, one in every local government area, to be operated mainly by youth and women. Equipment installation is already underway in 12 states across all geopolitical zones.
Implementation of the Nairobi Declaration
The minister further announced that Nigeria is implementing the 2024 Nairobi Declaration on African Fertilizer and Soil Health, supported by partners such as:
GIZ
Soil Values
AGRA
IITA
World Bank ACReSAL Project
Sasakawa Africa
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Key milestones under the agenda include the Soil Health Card, the Nigerian Soil Information System, nationwide workshops, a study tour to Ethiopia, and alignment with ECOWAS fertilizer policies.
He confirmed that pilot soil testing is ongoing in 12 states and that the programme has been captured in the national budget.
Urban Soil Crisis Worsens
Also speaking at the event, Olumuyiwa James Jayeoba, Vice President of the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science (NISS), warned that cities cannot thrive on “sick soils.
”Healthy soils, he said, support clean water, vegetation, infrastructure stability and urban climate regulation. However, rapid urban growth is escalating soil degradation through erosion, pollution and shrinking green spaces.
Jayeoba noted that the NISS is strengthening soil regulation, expanding nationwide testing, and supporting urban farms, gardens, parks and restoration efforts. The institute is also guiding city planners to adopt climate-smart land-use systems.
Call to Action
Stakeholders urged policymakers, urban managers and citizens to adopt soil-friendly practices, emphasizing that cities become cleaner, safer and more resilient when soils are treated as a living foundation.