socio-political and economic configuration vis-à-vis soil governance. It analyses the
remote and immediate causes of the soil induced conflicts that have ravaged the
country in recent times. Section 4 deals with cases bordering on traditional landownership as opposed to the Land Use Act of 1978. The two regimes are juxtaposed
and evaluated for a clearer understanding, as well as linking the present soil
governance system and its attendant challenge to the Act. Section 5 puts together
the legal provisions in the Nigerian law that considers soil protection. This section
also identifies the inadequacies inherent in the available provisions that have contributed to the country’s soil governance woes. Section 6 is a consideration of the
international legal framework on soil governance. It examines the global concern
and advocacy for the sustainable and productive use of soil. It further makes
observations on some regional and global instruments pertaining to sustainable
soil management. Section 7 contains recommendations that are geared towards
achieving zero net soil degradation in Nigeria. The suggestions provided here are
so holistic and apt that, with proper and meticulous consideration and political will,
they can turn the morbid state of unsustainable soil governance in the country
around. Finally, Sect. 8 is a recap of the chapter.
2 Definition of Terms and Key Concepts
This section deals with some key words with terminological implications which need
to be defined or explained. Often times, the meanings of words are being
misconceived due to shared similarities or dual perspectives. These words include
land, soil, farmer, herdsman, soil governance, soil management, and land degradation neutrality. It is pertinent to note that the Nigerian Land Use Act of 1978,
which is regarded as the central statute which laid out the legal and governance
structure of land, does not define in lucid terms what constitutes land or soil.
Nevertheless, in this chapter, land is used in both its juristic and real property
meaning as a three-dimensional part of the Earth’s surface which is an immovable
and indestructible
7 space not covered by water. It includes the ground or soil
8 and
extends to the space above and below. Soil, on the other hand, refers to a mixture of
organic matter minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life.
9 In
view of the above, land and soil can be used interchangeably.
Interestingly, two critical uses of land in Nigeria are farming and animal husbandry—cattle rearing. Although farming may involve crop as well as animal
production, in this chapter it refers to the former as this is normally the case in
Nigeria. In other words, farming is the act of cultivating the land for crop production.
Accordingly, a farmer is one who engages in this act. He promotes and improves the
7 Garner (2015).
8 Allaby and Park (2017).
9 Ponge (2015).
Soil Governance and Sustainable Land Use System in Nigeria: The Paradox of. . .
159
remote and immediate causes of the soil induced conflicts that have ravaged the
country in recent times. Section 4 deals with cases bordering on traditional landownership as opposed to the Land Use Act of 1978. The two regimes are juxtaposed
and evaluated for a clearer understanding, as well as linking the present soil
governance system and its attendant challenge to the Act. Section 5 puts together
the legal provisions in the Nigerian law that considers soil protection. This section
also identifies the inadequacies inherent in the available provisions that have contributed to the country’s soil governance woes. Section 6 is a consideration of the
international legal framework on soil governance. It examines the global concern
and advocacy for the sustainable and productive use of soil. It further makes
observations on some regional and global instruments pertaining to sustainable
soil management. Section 7 contains recommendations that are geared towards
achieving zero net soil degradation in Nigeria. The suggestions provided here are
so holistic and apt that, with proper and meticulous consideration and political will,
they can turn the morbid state of unsustainable soil governance in the country
around. Finally, Sect. 8 is a recap of the chapter.
2 Definition of Terms and Key Concepts
This section deals with some key words with terminological implications which need
to be defined or explained. Often times, the meanings of words are being
misconceived due to shared similarities or dual perspectives. These words include
land, soil, farmer, herdsman, soil governance, soil management, and land degradation neutrality. It is pertinent to note that the Nigerian Land Use Act of 1978,
which is regarded as the central statute which laid out the legal and governance
structure of land, does not define in lucid terms what constitutes land or soil.
Nevertheless, in this chapter, land is used in both its juristic and real property
meaning as a three-dimensional part of the Earth’s surface which is an immovable
and indestructible
7 space not covered by water. It includes the ground or soil
8 and
extends to the space above and below. Soil, on the other hand, refers to a mixture of
organic matter minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life.
9 In
view of the above, land and soil can be used interchangeably.
Interestingly, two critical uses of land in Nigeria are farming and animal husbandry—cattle rearing. Although farming may involve crop as well as animal
production, in this chapter it refers to the former as this is normally the case in
Nigeria. In other words, farming is the act of cultivating the land for crop production.
Accordingly, a farmer is one who engages in this act. He promotes and improves the
7 Garner (2015).
8 Allaby and Park (2017).
9 Ponge (2015).
Soil Governance and Sustainable Land Use System in Nigeria: The Paradox of. . .
159