Ahmadu Bello University has marked this year’s World Soil Day with a public awareness campaign highlighting how rapid urbanisation is damaging soil health and increasing environmental risks in Nigerian cities.
The Department of Soil Science in the Faculty of Agriculture organised a sensitisation walk on campus in Zaria as part of efforts to raise awareness of soil sealing — the covering of ground surfaces with concrete and asphalt — which experts say is worsening flooding and reducing groundwater recharge.
Head of Department Professor Aisha Abdulkadir said the initiative aimed to push soil science into mainstream urban planning and infrastructure development. She warned that neglecting soil health in expanding cities threatens long-term sustainability and public safety.
Staff and students took part in the procession, which moved through major campus routes to engage the university community.
World Soil Day, observed globally on 5 December under the coordination of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, promotes the sustainable management of soils. This year’s theme, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities,” underscores growing concern that poorly managed urban growth is eroding natural soil functions that support drainage, food systems and ecological balance.
Professor Abdulkadir said protecting urban soils must become a national priority if cities are to remain liveable in the face of climate change and population growth.
