The Federal Government says it plans to establish soil-testing facilities across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to improve fertiliser efficiency, increase crop yields and strengthen national food security. 

The initiative is part of the National Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme, which seeks to provide farmers with reliable information on soil nutrient deficiencies and tailored fertiliser recommendations. 

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, disclosed this while delivering a keynote address at the Fertilizer Summit on Phosphorus and Food Security in Nigeria, held in Abuja. Abdullahi, who was represented by the Director of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, Olanipekun Oshadiya, said the scheme marked a shift towards science-based and farmer-focused soil fertility management. 

He noted that many Nigerian farmers had for years made fertiliser choices without adequate knowledge of their soil nutrient composition. 

According to the minister, relying on general fertiliser recommendations without considering soil characteristics, crop requirements and local agroecological conditions could increase production costs, reduce fertiliser efficiency and weaken farm profitability. 

He said the planned facilities would help farmers make informed decisions about fertiliser use, reduce waste and improve returns on agricultural investments.