Soil degradation in Nigeria emerges as a critical threat to food security and climate resilience
Nigeria’s agricultural future is under increasing strain as the Federal Government confirms that 33 per cent of the nation’s soil is already degraded, raising major concerns about food production, climate adaptation, and long-term environmental stability.
The warning was delivered by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, during the 2025 World Soil Day commemoration in Abuja, where he emphasised that the escalating crisis of soil degradation in Nigeria has far-reaching implications for the country’s economic and social well-being.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the minister stressed that healthy soils remain the bedrock of Nigeria’s food system, noting that soil provides up to 95 per cent of all food consumed globally and supplies essential nutrients that sustain plant and livestock production.
Beyond food, he said soil also regulates climate, filters water, stores carbon, and supports billions of microorganisms that are vital to ecosystems.
Sabi warned that soil degradation in Nigeria is accelerating at a pace that threatens agricultural yields and could undermine national food security if urgent interventions are not implemented.
He highlighted the combined impact of erosion, nutrient depletion, improper fertiliser use, mining activities, deforestation, urban expansion, and industrial pollution, describing them as “unprecedented threats” to the country’s agricultural base.
“It is deeply concerning that one-third of Nigeria’s soil is already degraded, and scientific estimates show that it can take nearly 1,000 years to naturally regenerate just 2 to 3 centimetres of topsoil,” he said.
“This stark reality demands strategic policies, enhanced public awareness, and aggressive conservation efforts to protect the foundation of our food system.”
Government pushes for sustainable interventions
The minister explained that this year’s World Soil Day observance must serve as a platform to mobilise farmers, policymakers, researchers, and development partners to prioritise soil health.
He emphasised that sustainable farming practices, efficient fertiliser management, and responsible land-use planning are essential to reversing soil degradation in Nigeria.
According to him, the Nigerian Soil Health Programme for Farmers—launched on October 13—represents one of the government’s most significant interventions toward achieving President Bola Tinubu’s food sovereignty agenda.
The initiative provides location-specific fertiliser recommendations to farmers, discourages indiscriminate fertiliser application, and reduces the financial burden of wasted inputs.
The programme also promotes organic soil amendments, encourages crop rotation, and supports sustainable land management techniques across Nigeria’s diverse ecological zones.
Sabi noted that partnerships with global and regional institutions have yielded meaningful progress in strengthening soil governance.
He cited collaborations with GIZ, the Soil Values Programme, OCP, AGRA, the World Bank’s ACReSAL project, Sasakawa Africa, and IITA as examples of collective action aimed at improving soil health systems nationwide.
He described the integration of the National Fertiliser and Soil Health Strategy into the federal budget and the formation of a “Coalition of the Willing” as major policy milestones in the fight against soil degradation in Nigeria.
Experts call for deeper reforms and inclusive participation
Stakeholders from the Soil Values Programme, who also participated in the event, echoed the minister’s warnings.
Dr. Alain Traoré, Programme Director of Soil Values, stated that the global theme—“Valuing Our Soil, Foundation for Food Sovereignty and Climate Resilience”—reflects the economic importance of healthy soil and the urgent need to protect it.
Dr. Alimata Boundaogou, Deputy Director of the programme, stressed the necessity of scaling Integrated Soil Fertility Management practices nationwide.
She advocated for improved seed distribution, increased adoption of soil and water conservation techniques, and wider gender and social inclusion in agricultural programmes.
According to her, women, youth, and persons with disabilities must be deliberately integrated into the national soil-health strategy if long-term resilience is to be achieved.
Public awareness efforts intensify
As part of the multi-day activities, participants embarked on a public awareness march from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Abuja Continental Hotel.
The event also featured a student debate focused on soil restoration, designed to promote youth involvement in addressing soil degradation in Nigeria.
The Soil Values Programme, a major partner in the commemoration, targets the restoration of two million hectares of degraded land across the Sahel and aims to strengthen the climate resilience of 1.5 million farmers through agroecology, inclusive markets, and supportive policy frameworks.
The initiative is jointly implemented by the International Fertiliser Development Centre, SNV, Wageningen University, AGRA, CIFOR-ICRAF, IITA, ISRIC, and the International Water Management Institute.
With the combined pressures of climate change, rapid population growth, and expanding land degradation, experts warn that Nigeria cannot afford to ignore the rising threat to its agricultural foundation.
Senator Sabi reiterated that protecting soil for future generations must be treated as a national priority.
“Our ability to guarantee food sovereignty depends on the health of our soil,” he said. “Addressing soil degradation in Nigeria is not optional; it is central to our survival and to building a resilient agricultural economy.”
