…Tinubu flags off Nigeria’s biggest-ever agricultural overhaul
…Programme to create 16,000 jobs, boost rural economy, empower youth
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday officially flagged off the deployment of 2,000 tractors across the country, declaring the move as the beginning of Nigeria’s agricultural renaissance and a defining moment in the pursuit of food sovereignty.
In a statement signed by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu said the formal launch of the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s quest for rural transformation, economic expansion, and national food security.
The event, held at the National Agricultural Seeds Council, Sheda, along the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway, featured the commissioning of tractors, harvesters, and supporting equipment designed to serve millions of smallholder farmers.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to modernising agriculture and declared that the nation must move swiftly from food insecurity to food self-reliance and export-driven productivity.
He said the initiative was not only the fulfilment of a campaign promise but also a strategic step toward repositioning Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse. He described the programme as both a bold response to the country’s long-standing food crisis and a major investment in rural development.
According to the President, mechanised farming is now synonymous with national stability and economic independence.
The President disclosed that the 2,000 tractors and complementary implements would be deployed nationwide through a service-provider model aimed at expanding farmers’ access to modern tools, reducing drudgery, and boosting yields.
He urged stakeholders to handle the equipment responsibly, stating that accountability mechanisms would be enforced.
Tinubu said history would remember the day as the moment Nigeria began its agricultural revival through modern technology and the resilience of its farming communities.
He thanked the Republic of Belarus for playing a vital role in the procurement, technology transfer, and training framework that made the rollout possible.
He specifically acknowledged Mr. Alex Sigman, a Belarusian businessman and former classmate at the University of Chicago, for facilitating the strategic collaboration between both countries. He said the partnership was proof that long-standing personal relationships could translate into bilateral progress and mutual prosperity.
He described the tractor deployment as the most ambitious and far-reaching mechanisation drive in Nigeria’s history. The Minister explained that the programme includes other strategic initiatives such as the John Deere Tractorisation Programme, the Greener Hope Project, and the Green Imperative Scheme.
Dr. Kyari stated that the Belarus-supported programme, implemented in partnership with AfTrade DMCC, has already delivered 2,000 tractors, 10 combine harvesters, 12 mobile workshops, 9,000 farming implements, and 9,000 spare part kits.
He said the first phase would cultivate over 550,000 hectares of farmland, generate more than 2 million metric tons of staple food, create 16,000 new jobs, and benefit at least 550,000 farming households.
He added that youth engagement will be prioritised through training in agri-tech, machinery handling, logistics, and extension services, while GPS-based monitoring and structured repayment systems will ensure transparency and sustainability.
Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, Mr. Viktor Karenkevich, who delivered a goodwill message on behalf of President Alexander Lukashenko, praised Nigeria’s decision to partner with Belarus. He said Belarusian equipment, recognised for its quality and durability, already serves over 100 countries and will now serve the Nigerian people.
Karenkevich noted that the cooperation between Nigeria and Belarus was sealed at the 2024 Belagro Exhibition in Minsk, where both governments signed a roadmap for long-term agricultural development.
He said Belarus is ready to launch the second and third phases of the project, which include the construction of service and maintenance centres in Nigeria, local assembly plants for tractors and farming equipment, grain storage facilities, and expanded training programmes for Nigerian technicians and youths.
He added that the Belarus–Nigeria partnership is grounded in friendship, equality, and mutual respect not exploitation.
Karenkevich also delivered a personal letter and formal invitation from President Lukashenko to President Tinubu, requesting a future state visit to deepen the growing bilateral ties between both nations.
Dignitaries at the commissioning included APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, lawmakers from the Senate and House Committees on Agriculture, development partners, and representatives of farmers’ cooperatives across the federation.
