Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun, and the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) have called for sustainable soil management and responsible nutrient stewardship to address declining soil fertility in Nigeria.
The institutions made the call on Monday in Abuja at the Nigeria Fertiliser Summit 2026, themed “Phosphorus and Food Security: Challenges in Food Production in Nigeria.”
Prof. Adebayo Bamire, Vice-Chancellor of OAU, who delivered the keynote address, emphasised that securing the country’s food future required sustainable soil fertility management, with particular attention to phosphorus.
The keynote address was titled “Securing Nigeria’s Food Future through Sustainable Soil Fertility Management: The Strategic Importance of Phosphorus for Agricultural Transformation.”
Bamire said sustainable agricultural production was not merely a concern for farmers but a national priority affecting economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction and citizens’ well-being.
He emphasised that although attention was often given to improved seeds, mechanisation, irrigation and market access, agricultural productivity ultimately depended on the nutrients available in the soil.
“Every successful agricultural system begins with healthy and productive soils. One of the most important of these nutrients is phosphorus. Without adequate phosphorus, crops cannot attain their full potential.
“Many agricultural lands across Nigeria face declining soil fertility due to continuous cultivation, nutrient mining, soil degradation, deforestation and limited replenishment, leading to reduced yields and lower profitability.
“Addressing the challenge requires more than increased fertiliser use; it requires a comprehensive commitment to sustainable soil management and responsible nutrient stewardship.
“Responsibility must be shared by the government, research institutions, the fertiliser industry, extension services, the private sector and development partners,” he said.
Bamire noted that universities had a responsibility to contribute through research, innovation and capacity building to translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions for farmers.
He said the summit provided a platform for dialogue and collaboration to improve nutrient-use efficiency, strengthen fertiliser systems and promote sustainable growth.
According to him, the future of Nigerian agriculture would not be determined solely by available resources but also by how effectively they were managed.
On his part, Prof. Gabriel Oluwatosin, Executive Director of IAR&T, described phosphorus as an overlooked bottleneck to food security.
“Without nitrogen, we can make fertiliser from air. Without phosphorus, there is no workaround.
“It is an element; you cannot synthesise it. Every plant needs phosphorus for DNA, ATP and root development.
“About half of global food production depends on phosphorus fertiliser, and about 63 per cent of it comes from mined phosphate rock.
“The food security trap is having too little and too much at the same time — too little in sub-Saharan Africa, where soils have been mined for decades, and too much in Europe, North America and parts of Asia, where excessive run-off causes eutrophication and algal blooms,” he said.
According to Oluwatosin, phosphate rock is finite, with peak production of high-grade rock projected between 2030 and 2033. He added that geopolitical factors increased supply risks, as Morocco controlled about 70 per cent of global reserves.
He said Africa held 60 per cent of the world’s arable land but had some of the lowest fertiliser-use rates, adding that many Nigerian farmers applied urea alone, further undermining soil fertility.
