The Federal Government has commenced the validation of Nigeria's first National Agricultural Land and Soil Management Policy (NALSMP), a landmark initiative aimed at improving food security by using ward-level soil data to help farmers reduce production costs, increase crop yields and build resilience against climate change.
The policy, expected to be finalised within the next six to eight months, was unveiled during a three-day National Consultation Stakeholders' Workshop in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the initiative comes at a critical period when the country is grappling with rising food prices, increasing farm input costs and the growing impact of climate change on agricultural production.
He described healthy soil as the foundation of sustainable agriculture, stressing that investments in improved seeds, mechanisation and agricultural financing would have limited impact if soil degradation is not addressed.
According to the minister, the new policy will focus on ensuring practical, farmer-friendly soil management practices, strengthening coordination among the federal, state and local governments, integrating soil health into climate adaptation efforts under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, and attracting private sector investments in soil restoration through incentives for soil testing, organic fertilisers and digital advisory services.
Abdullahi disclosed that data generated through the Nigeria Soil Information System (NiSIS) and the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS) would provide location-specific recommendations on soil pH, organic matter and fertiliser application at the local government and ward levels.
He also announced that, for the first time, government fertiliser subsidies would be linked to verified soil health data to ensure support reaches farmers based on actual soil needs.
The minister urged farmers to adopt sustainable practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, organic manure application and minimum tillage to improve soil fertility, while calling on state governments to mainstream soil health into agricultural development plans.
He also appealed to researchers to convert soil data into practical recommendations for farmers, encouraged private sector investment in soil testing and digital extension services, and urged development partners to support implementation, monitoring and capacity building.
Highlighting ongoing government efforts, Abdullahi said the Federal Government had rolled out the Nigeria Soil Information System, integrated the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Scheme into the ECOWAS Regional Fertiliser Hub, partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and deployed modern soil laboratory equipment to 15 states.
He reaffirmed the government's commitment to expanding soil testing services through NiSIS and collaborating with the Federal Ministries of Environment and Water Resources on land restoration under the ACReSAL Project.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, described healthy soils as the bedrock of sustainable agriculture, noting that they support food production, regulate water resources, store carbon and conserve biodiversity.
He said the workshop would undertake a clause-by-clause review of the draft policy, validate its strategic pillars of protection, restoration, governance, financing and data management, define the responsibilities of all levels of government and key stakeholders, and develop a roadmap for nationwide implementation.
Ogunbiyi urged participants to ensure the policy becomes a practical framework capable of restoring degraded soils, improving farmers' productivity and strengthening Nigeria's long-term food security.
The workshop attracted participants from ACReSAL, OCP Africa, the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), AGRA, Sasakawa Africa Association, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), farmers' associations, women and youth groups, academia and the private sector.