Food Security: Soil constitutes backbone in Nigeria’s agric sector – Minister

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, says soil constitutes the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The minister stated this on Thursday in Abuja, at the 2025 World Soil Day celebration with the Global theme: “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.

Abdullahi said that soil supplied 95 per cent of the country’s food and provided 15 of the 18 essential elements required for plant growth.

“Soil supports crop growth and livestock production, purifies water, regulates climate, sequesters carbon, mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, and offers habitat for beneficial microorganisms, thereby supporting ecosystem services and biodiversity.

” However, our soils are currently facing unprecedented threats from degradation, erosion, and pollution, which adversely affect crop yields, food quality, and ultimately, food security,” he said.

The minister said that regrettably, 33 per cent of Nigeria’s soils are already degraded, and it might take up to 1,000 years to regenerate merely 2-3 cm of soil.

He said the soil day event presented a significant opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for sustainable soil management practices.

Abdullahi said these practices included crop rotation, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, reduced tillage, organic amendments, and integrated nutrient management.

” Observing World Soil Day will enable us to educate the public, especially our esteemed farmers, about soil conservation and its advantages.

” It will also enable us to promote sustainable agricultural practices, support the ministry’s initiatives for soil health, encourage research, and advocate for policies that safeguard our soils,” he said.

He said the ministry’s vision is to restore and uphold soil health, ensuring sustainable agriculture, food security, and enhanced livelihoods for all Nigerians.

The minister said the ministry in October, unveiled the Nigerian Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS) with nearly 600 farmers, dignitaries, and partners present.

He said the initiative represented a crucial advancement towards the Renewed Hope for food security and sovereignty of President Bola Tinubu.

“I urge all of us to collaborate to safeguard our soils for future generations and prioritise soil health to guarantee food sovereignty and climate resilience for all Nigerians,” he said.

In a Goodwill message, Prof.Olumuyiwa Jayeoba, Vice President, Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), said that across Nigeria, rapid urbanisation had increased pressure on the country’s soil resources through erosion, waste management, among others.

He said the event showed the essential truth that the well-being of public spaces, food security, clean water infrastructure, and public health are inseparable from the health of the soil and natural population.

Jayeoba reiterated NISS’s commitment to promoting responsible soil management in both rural and urban environments.

In a remark, Dr Alain Traore, Programme Director, Soil Values Programme, underscored the importance of healthy soils for healthy cities.

“Together, we are reinforcing this message that the health of our soil is inseparable from the health of our people.

“As we celebrate today, we must also confront the challenges before us, such as land degradation, nutrient loss, erosion, deforestation, and many others,” he said.

He said these challenges affect the farmers, thereby reducing their productivity.

Traore, who urged farmers to adopt improved practices, also urged the youth to see soil science and agribusiness as a frontier of opportunity.