33% of Nigeria’s soil degraded, minister warns

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi, has warned that 33 per cent of Nigeria’s soil is already degraded. He urged soil conservation, sustainable farming practices and stronger soil protection policies to secure the nation’s food future.

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 World Soil Day activities in Abuja, the Minister said soil health remains “the foundation for food sovereignty and climate resilience.” He noted that World Soil Day creates a platform to highlight “the importance of soil in ensuring food sovereignty, climate resilience, and improving livelihoods.”

Sabi said soil remains the backbone of agriculture, providing 95 per cent of food and most essential elements for plant growth. He added that soil “supports crop growth, purifies water, regulates climate, sequesters carbon, and provides habitats for beneficial microorganisms.”

The minister warned that Nigeria faces growing threats. “Our soil faces unprecedented threats: degradation, erosion, and pollution, which negatively affect yields, food quality, and ultimately, food security. It is regrettable to note that 33 per cent of our soil is already degraded and that it takes up to 1,000 years to regenerate only 2 to 3 cm of soil,” he said.

Sabi stated that the 2025 celebration must raise farmers’ awareness on soil conservation, promote sustainable agricultural practices, support ongoing ministry soil-health initiatives and strengthen advocacy for soil protection policies.

He highlighted the Nigerian Soil Health Programme for Farmers, launched on 13 October, as a major step toward achieving President Bola Tinubu’s food sovereignty agenda. According to him, the programme “provides fertiliser recommendations adapted to crops and areas”, discourages indiscriminate application, reduces waste and lowers production costs. It also promotes organic amendments and sustainable land management across agroecological zones.

Sabi acknowledged progress through partnerships with GIZ, the Soil Values programme, OCP, AGRA, the World Bank’s ACReSAL project, Sasakawa Africa, and IITA. He cited the integration of the NFSHS into the federal budget and the creation of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ following national consultation workshops as key milestones. He urged stakeholders to “protect soil for future generations” and prioritise soil health to strengthen Nigeria’s climate resilience.

The Programme Director of Soil Values, Dr Alain Traoré, stated that stakeholders chose the 2025 sub-theme, ‘Valuing our Soil, Foundation for Food Sovereignty and Climate Resilience’, to underline the economic importance of healthy soil.

Also speaking, the Deputy Director of the Soil Values technical programme, Dr Alimata Boundaogou, stressed the need to scale up Integrated Soil Fertility Management and soil and water conservation practices. She called for improved seeds, stronger farmer resilience and greater gender and social inclusion, “especially for women, youth, and people living with disabilities.”

The second day featured an awareness march from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Abuja Continental Hotel, alongside a student debate on soil restoration.

The Soil Values programme targets improving the fertility of two million hectares of land in the Sahel and strengthening the resilience of 1.5 million farmers using agroecology, inclusive markets and enabling policy pathways. A partnership between the International Fertiliser Development Centre, SNV, Wageningen University, AGRA, CIFOR-ICRAF, IITA, ISRIC and the International Water Management Institute led the programme.

The IFDC organised the World Soil Day event in Abuja through its Soil Values programme, collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science.