Soil society raises alarm on oil spillage, demand policy

Scientists at the just concluded 43th annual conference has bemoan damages occasioned by  oil spillage and its poor management in relation to soil in the Niger Delta area of South-South of Nigeria in view of food security and safe environment, demanded policy  for soil policy in Nigeria.

In a communiqué signed by the National President, Prof. B.A Raji after a conference held at the University of Agriculture Markurdi, the members of soil science society of Nigeria wanted a positive action taken against spillage in the oil producing areas for the purpose of effective soil management to achieving food security, while also stressed the need for policy that would effectively manage soil lands very well towards food security.   

The statement pointed that the food security situation in the country is being threatened because of rising insecurity, kidnapping and increasing herdsmen and farmers’ clashes while also stressed with concern’’ the large scale devastation of agricultural lands due to oil spillage in the oil producing areas of Niger Delta region and the slow pace of remediation processing’

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Towards this end, the following resolutions were then taken.....

1.       Urgent action is needed to arrest insecurity and increasing cases of clashes between herdsmen and farmers. There exist soil and land management technologies capable of enhancing the productivity of crops even in badly degraded lands and hostile physical environment. Soil science society of Nigeria is willing to partner with states and Federal governments to revitalize the soil resources of the nation, improve their capacity to sustainably produce food and forage crops and thus stem the increasing conflict between crop farmers and herdsmen.

2.       Government should take advantage of existing soil science experts and technologies on shelves to facilitate the green world initiative with the view to combating desertification and restoration of vegetation in the fringes.

3.       Government should discourage the use of un-graded and un-branded agrochemicals (insecticide, herbicides and fertilizer) and ascent the fertilizer bill already passed by the national assembly to protect farmers from exploitation and abuse and also to save our soils, crops, and citizen from health risk and hazards.

4.       FG should accelerate should accelerate the cleanup of the polluted sites and the soil science society of Nigeria is willing to provide expertise and proven technologies.

5.       Government should as a matter of urgency develop a soil policy that include soil testing, best management practices and site specific fertilizer recommendation.