The Federal Government has signalled a shift towards soil-based fertiliser recommendations as Nigeria seeks to improve crop production, reduce farming costs and strengthen national food security.
The policy direction was highlighted at the 2026 Nigeria Fertiliser Summit in Abuja, where Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said indiscriminate fertiliser application without reliable soil information had contributed to higher production costs and reduced efficiency.
For farmers, fertiliser is one of the most important agricultural inputs. It supplies nutrients that crops need to grow, develop healthy roots and produce grain, fruits and other harvests. However, applying the wrong fertiliser or using the wrong quantity can waste money and fail to deliver the expected increase in yield.
The government’s soil-health approach aims to address that problem by promoting decisions based on the actual condition of farmland. Different fields can have different nutrient needs, even when they are located in the same community. Soil testing can help identify nutrient deficiencies and guide farmers towards more suitable fertiliser types and application rates.
The initiative also reflects a wider effort to strengthen agricultural productivity through science and better farm management. Farmers facing high input prices need ways to ensure that every naira spent on fertiliser produces a meaningful benefit.
The federal government’s stated ambition to extend the soil-health push across all 774 local government areas would give the initiative a nationwide reach. However, effective implementation will require reliable soil data, accessible testing services, trained agricultural extension officers and clear guidance that farmers can use.
Small-scale farmers may face particular difficulties if soil testing is expensive or unavailable in rural areas. To make the policy effective, services must reach the communities where food is grown, rather than remaining concentrated in major agricultural centres.
Fertiliser recommendations also need to account for the crops being cultivated, rainfall, irrigation, planting seasons and the financial circumstances of individual farmers. A recommendation that works for one crop or location may not be appropriate for another.
If implemented effectively, a soil-first approach could help farmers avoid unnecessary spending, improve nutrient management and protect the long-term productivity of agricultural land. Better soil management may also support more sustainable farming by reducing inappropriate fertiliser use.
Nigeria’s food-security challenge requires both higher production and lower costs. Improving the way farmers use fertiliser is one practical step towards achieving those objectives.
The next important question is how quickly the initiative can move from policy discussions to accessible services for farmers across the country.
