By Yemi Olakitan
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The Lagos State yesterday joined the global community in marking World Soil Day, urging residents to join hands in ensuring the effective use of the soil and its resources towards ensuring sustainability for generations to come.
Speaking during a media interaction on the commemoration of the 2022 World Soil Day at the State Secretariat, ALAUSA, Ikeja, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello said that it is imperative for Lagosians to shun all acts that may be deleterious to the natural use and functions of the soil.
“The loss of soil nutrients is a major process of soil degradation which threatens nutrition and food security in the world”, he said.
He explained that the theme for this year’s celebration “Soils: Where Food Begins”, which is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 (Life on Land), could not have come at a better time than now owing to the many daily occurrences and challenges of soil degradation globally.
He added that the various soil challenges threaten the integrity of the soil, its ability to sustain plant growth and food production through the supply of essential nutrients for man’s survival.
“According to the United Nations, in the last 70 years, the level of vitamins and nutrients in food has drastically decreased, and it is estimated that two billion people worldwide suffer from a lack of micronutrients, particularly Iron, Zinc, Iodine, and Vitamin A known as hidden hunger”, he explained.
He stated further that the effects of soil degradation are not simplistic and can have widespread effects on not just food production but also environmental pollution arising from excessive use of fertilizers.
Bello added that some of the biggest threats facing soil health today include petroleum products contamination, unsustainable sand mining practices, pollution from industrial activities, and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides used by farmers which overload the soil with harmful chemicals.
His words: “It is in this light that the State Government is joining the rest of the world in celebrating the Year 2022 World Soil Day by raising awareness through different multimedia platforms on the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being”.
He said the State Government is also using the annual celebration to address the many challenges in soil management while encouraging society to improve soil health across the state.
World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.
An international day to celebrate soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002. Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand and within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, FAO has supported the formal establishment of WSD as a global awareness-raising platform. The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, the UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.
