President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has flagged off the distribution of over 2,000 tractors and thousands of modern farming tools under his Renewed Hope agricultural mechanisation programme. He said the intervention is already yielding results, describing it as a major step towards transforming Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
Speaking during the launch, President Tinubu explained that his administration procured over 2,000 tractors, 50 industrial land preparation equipment, 12 fully equipped mobile workshops, and 8,000 ploughs, along with other specialised farming equipment. According to him, “If fully deployed, these machines will cultivate over five million hectares of agricultural land across the country.”
The President stated that the initiative will create massive job opportunities, increase food production, and help farmers move away from crude farming methods to advanced mechanised practices.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the procurement as a landmark achievement in the nation’s history.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus, Victor Karankevich, commended Nigeria for the partnership, stressing its role in strengthening food security and agricultural prosperity. The Nigeria-Belarus agricultural partnership, formalised in September 2024, represents the largest agricultural mechanisation initiative in Nigeria’s history.
The tractors, which have been assembled in Abuja, were delivered under a multi-billion dollar agreement aimed at boosting food production. Along with the tractors, the partnership involves the deployment of 9,072 assorted agricultural implements to support farming operations nationwide.
To ensure widespread access, the federal government has introduced three schemes for distribution: direct purchase for individuals and organisations, affordable leasing schemes, and a service provider model where tractor service centres will be set up in farming communities. This allows smallholder farmers to lease tractors when needed, increasing access to modern tools.
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During the launch, President Tinubu was accompanied by prominent leaders, including Niger State Governor and farmer, Mohammed Umaru Bago. The President also inaugurated the Baban Shada/ Pai Road project in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, further showing his administration’s commitment to agricultural development and rural infrastructure.