Daniel Adaji
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to strengthen soil health, improve fertilizer efficiency and advance Nigeria’s drive for food sovereignty.
The agreement was signed during an MoU ceremony at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja, as part of the Presidential Soil Health Scheme aimed at transforming soil management practices and boosting agricultural productivity nationwide.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the partnership would provide Nigerian farmers with data-driven guidance on fertilizer application and crop selection to enhance yields and reduce production costs.
He explained that the collaboration would also improve land management and climate services, build national expertise and serve as a framework for regional cooperation.
The minister stressed that both parties would jointly address challenges such as soil nutrient depletion, erosion and climate change impacts through the deployment of advanced technologies.
According to him, “beyond food availability and affordability, the government was committed to ensuring nutritional quality and safety, If the soil is not healthy, no matter the effort, the desired results cannot be achieved.”
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said “the purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to articulate the understanding and willingness of the Parties (the ministry and IITA) to evaluate the benefits of their collaboration, facilitating any joint preliminary study and due diligence related to the proposed partnership, while also delineating the general intentions of the Parties regarding such collaboration. This MoU does not impose any legal obligations on either Party concerning the proposed collaboration”.
He noted that “this MoU is anchored on three fundamental objectives, which are Strengthen Agricultural Land Management and Climate Change Services with emphasis on Soil Health and Fertilizer Management in Nigeria,Build National Capacity through applied research, soil fertility practice management data systems, and policy support and Promote a model of collaboration that can inspire and inform similar efforts across the ECOWAS region.”
Dr. Abdullahi added that “This scheme is designed to remove guesswork for Nigerian farmers by giving them facts, what to plant, where to plant, and the type of fertilizer required for each soil type.”
He disclosed that laboratories would be established across the 774 local government areas to enable farmers submit soil samples for analysis and receive recommendations comparable to medical laboratory tests.
The minister further revealed that “since the inauguration of Mr. President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, he has made agriculture a top priority in Nigeria through the Renewed Hope for Food Security and Sovereignty initiative.”
According to him, “This commitment goes beyond mere political rhetoric; it is a serious mandate that Mr. President has embraced with full dedication, including mobilizing both local and international support to ensure food availability for all citizens in the nation.”
He commended IITA for its long-standing partnership with Nigeria in driving agricultural transformation through research, innovation, capacity building and technology transfer, particularly in climate resilience, data-driven farming and youth and women empowerment.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of IITA, Dr. Simeon Ehui, said the agreement would support the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS) and the continued development of the Nigerian National Soil Information System (NNSIS). Ehui stated that the partnership was designed to deliver location-specific, data-driven recommendations to farmers rather than “generalized messages.”
He revealed that implementation would be coordinated through the Regional Hub of Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel, hosted by IITA, to ensure common standards and shared learning among countries.
He said, “This approach assures a standards-based system rather than isolated interventions, while allowing Nigeria to benefit from regional expertise.”
Ehui explained that the initiative would provide crop- and location-specific fertilizer recommendations for key staples such as rice, maize, sorghum, wheat and yam, alongside integrated soil fertility management, improved laboratory standards, digital soil information systems and capacity building.
He added that IITA would provide research and technical expertise, training, soil testing support and monitoring frameworks to ensure measurable outcomes.
According to him, “The real test of this MoU will be results-improved soil health systems, higher fertilizer use efficiency, stronger national capacity and accelerated progress towards food security.”
The highlight of the event was the formal signing of the MoU by officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
