By Jane Okafor, Abuja
The Nigerian founder and Director-General of Benin Republic – based Songhai Farms, Rev. Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo, has expressed concern over the increasing soil degradation through unsustainable agric practices in Nigeria, warning that it poses risk to the stability of the country’s future and survival of her over 250 million population.
Nzamujo, a multi-task entrepreneur and farmer, said 60% of the nation’s soil is degraded, costing approximately 13% of its GDP annually, lamenting that despite these clear warnings, Nigeria was yet to fully grasp the severity of a population exceeding 200 million, facing diminishing and rapidly degrading per capita land area.
He made this known on Thursday in Abuja during the 22nd Daily Trust Dialogue themed “Food Security: Availability or Affordability?”
The Delta State – indigene noted that Nigeria’s land was not only shrinking but also degrading – steadily losing soil microorganisms – the unseen architects of soil fertility, plant health, and nutrient cycling, describing the situation as a ticking time bomb threatening the nation’s future stability and prosperity.
He identified chemically intensive agricultural methods in the country which erode these critical elements, depleting soils and disrupting the intricate balance necessary for ecosystem resilience and sustainability as part of the source of the nation’s soil degradation.
Nzamujo who was the chairman of the occasion, wondered how a country with over 250 million people stands to survive under such conditions.
This farmer and professor, who holds two PhDs—in Economic History and Electrical Engineering—as well as a Master’s degree in Theology, therefore called for a paradigm shift in agricultural practices.
He emphasised the need to dismantle obsolete systems and embrace innovative, eco-friendly practices like those proven practicable, efficient and sustainable by the Songhai model.
“Business as usual is no longer an option. The fundamental flaw in today’s conventional food and agricultural systems lies in their reliance on practices that ignore the planet’s natural principles and patterns. Central to this oversight is the disregard for microorganisms – essential components of the ecological and trophic pyramid – that underpins the food chain.
“These microorganisms are the unseen architects of soil fertility, plant health, and nutrient cycling, forming the foundation of a thriving ecosystem. Chemically intensive agricultural methods erode these critical elements, depleting soils and disrupting the intricate balance necessary for ecosystem resilience and sustainability,” he said.
Nzamujo warned that the consequences of unsustainable agricultural practices include environmental degradation, soil erosion, rural decay, mass migration and escalating unemployment.
“In Nigeria, over 60% of the soil is degraded, costing the nation approximately 13% of its GDP annually,” he said, adding: “Alarmingly, despite these clear warnings, we fail to fully grasp the severity of a population exceeding 200 million, facing diminishing and rapidly degrading per capita land area.
“Every day, Nigeria’s land is not only shrinking but also degrading. This ticking time bomb threatens the nation’s future stability and prosperity. How can a country with over 250 million people survive under such conditions?”
Nzamujo called for a mindset shift and worldview, alongside the development of innovative technologies and infrastructure that aligned with the planet’s natural principles.
“At Songhai, our position is clear: by fostering transformative technologies and adopting sustainable practices, we can turn challenges into opportunities. Yes, we can produce more and better with less. That is the only way to make food available and affordable.
“This transformation is already underway in Nigeria, spearheaded by a new generation of young leaders driving change. Let us join them in building a sustainable and prosperous future,” he said.
Nzamujo described agriculture as a “weapon of mass production,” noting that his farm has attracted visitors from Europe and other parts of the world eager to study its innovative model. He added that all resources used at the farm, including manure, are locally sourced, underscoring its sustainability.
