Nigeria Validates First National Soil Policy for Food Security

The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the validation of the first National Soil Policy, known as the National Agricultural Land and Soil Management Policy (NALSMP), aimed at leveraging ward-level soil data to assist farmers in reducing costs and increasing yields. The policy is expected to be finalized within the next 6 to 8 months and includes a three-day national consultation workshop in Abuja, led by Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

This initiative is critical due to rising food security challenges, escalating input costs, and climate disruptions affecting Nigeria's food system. The policy will focus on four main areas: actionable steps for farmers, coordination among federal, state, and local governments, connecting soil health with climate adaptation, and creating avenues for private sector investment in soil restoration.

The Nigeria Soil Information System (NISI) and the Nigeria Farmer Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS) will provide data for soil health recommendations, linking fertilizer subsidies to soil health data.