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Abdulazeez Abubakar
2 weeks ago
Overview
Tinubu unveils distribution of 2,000 tractors, others
President Bola Tinubu has launched the distribution of 2,000 tractors and thousands of farming implements under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, an initiative aimed at boosting food security and national prosperity.
Speaking during the launch of the programme in Abuja on Monday, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering on its promises and building a sustainable agricultural future for the country.
“Today, we take a monumental leap forward with the introduction of the state-of-the-art tractors through our new agricultural mechanisation programme. We are very proud of what we are doing,” the President declared.
He recalled sounding the alarm two years ago on the threats to Nigeria’s food security and challenged his team to deliver innovative solutions.
“We made a promise when we came in. We are fulfilling that promise. Two years ago, I sounded the alarm on our nation’s food security. While we are here, there are over 2,000 advanced tractors, 50 industrial-grade land preparation booths, 12 fully equipped mobile workshops, and 8,000-plus specialised farming implements. This equipment, when deployed to empower mechanisation and service providers, creates job opportunities.”
Tinubu emphasised the broader vision of transforming Nigeria from a food-importing nation to a global agricultural powerhouse.
“Our ambition extends beyond mere self-sufficiency. We envision Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse. Supplying quality produce to international markets while ensuring every citizen has access to affordable nutrition,” he said.
He noted that the first phase of the initiative includes the deployment of over 2,000 advanced tractors, 50 industrial-grade land preparation bulldozers, 12 fully equipped mobile workshops, and over 8,000 specialised farming implements.
“You don’t have to use an 18th-century method for a 21st-century agricultural family,” he stated.
Tinubu also announced a partnership with Belarus to train Nigerian youths in machine operation, repairs, and mechanisation technology.
“We have Belarus committed to a programme that will empower our youth, teach them how to do things, get them off the streets, empower them in technology, review mechanisation, empower them in machine repairs and fabrication,” he stated.
He warned stakeholders to ensure the equipment is used effectively. “To all stakeholders receiving this equipment, deploy it with maximum efficiency. We will work with you, we will supervise you at various locations, and we will hold you accountable.”
Commending the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Tinubu said, “I sincerely commend the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for their productive effort in addressing the food crisis and maintaining stability with our food system. Together, we shall cultivate a future where Nigeria is not only sustaining itself, but nourishes the world over.”
Also speaking at the launch, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, hailed the programme as “the single largest mechanisation drive ever undertaken in Nigeria.”
He added, “From the very first days of this administration, Mr President made it abundantly clear. Food security is national security.”
He noted that the initiative follows four major mechanisation schemes under the Renewed Hope Agenda: the John Deere Tractorisation Programme, the Greener Hope Project, the Green Imperative Programme, and the Belarus Project.
The minister praised the rapid implementation achieved through the technical partnership with AFTRADE DMCC, a global leader in agricultural machinery. “Never in Nigeria’s history have we witnessed an agricultural mechanisation initiative of this scale, ambition, and national focus,” Kyari stated.
He added that under the new programme, the government is rolling out 2,000 high-quality tractors equipped with trailers, ploughs, harrows, sprayers, and planters, along with 10 combined harvesters, 12 fully equipped mobile workshops, 50 bulldozers for land preparation, and more than 9,000 complementary farming implements and spare parts.
Kyari explained that the programme’s objectives include cultivating over 550,000 hectares, generating more than two million metric tonnes of staple food, creating over 16,000 jobs, and directly impacting more than 550,000 farming households.
“This is not just about distributing tractors. It is about transforming the entire narrative of Nigerian agriculture, from subsistence to scale, from effort to efficiency, from hand hoes to horsepower,” he said.
The initiative also includes mandatory training for operators, GPS-based tracking for transparency, and financing support through development and non-interest banks.
“Mechanisation must inspire a new generation of agri-preneurs,” Kyari added. “We are already building a Nigeria that grows what it eats and eats what it grows.”
https://punchng.com/tinubu-unveils-distribution-of-2000-tractors-others/
