President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a major agricultural drive with the commissioning of 2,000 tractors under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme.
The event, held at the National Agricultural Seeds Council, Sheda, along the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway, marks the beginning of what the President described as Nigeria’s agricultural rebirth.
Speaking at the launch on Monday, Tinubu declared that the program is a critical response to the country’s food challenges, aimed at empowering smallholder farmers and modernizing farming practices nationwide.
Tinubu emphasized the broader vision of making Nigeria a significant player in global agricultural markets while ensuring local access to affordable and nutritious food. He noted that the 2,000 tractors and related equipment would be distributed through a service-provider model to assist rural farmers, improve productivity, and reduce reliance on manual labor.
“We are very proud of what we are doing. 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 crisis. I demanded immediate and innovative solutions. That, again, is answered today—this is the first phase of it.
“We envision Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse—supplying quality produce to international markets while ensuring every citizen can access affordable, nutritious food.
“We must seize this opportunity to achieve agricultural independence. Nigeria has the land, the people, and the tools. Let history recall this day as the beginning of Nigeria’s agricultural renaissance—where modern technology met our farmers’ legendary resilience to usher in greater prosperity,” he said.
The President acknowledged Belarus as a strategic partner in the program, citing their role in providing machinery, technical know-how, and training. He paid tribute to Belarusian businessman and his former university classmate, Alex Sigman, for facilitating the partnership.
“To all stakeholders receiving this equipment, deploy it with maximum efficiency. We will work with you, supervise you, and hold you accountable,” the President stated.
Tinubu also urged beneficiaries and stakeholders to deploy the machinery responsibly, stressing the need for accountability and supervision. He praised the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for coordinating the program and encouraged Nigerians to participate actively in transforming the sector.
In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari recalled the July 2023 declaration of a state of emergency on food security, which set the foundation for the current interventions. He detailed the components of the mechanization drive, which includes the John Deere Tractorisation Programme, the Greener Hope Project, the Green Imperative Programme, and the Belarus-backed tractor initiative.
Kyari said the latest project delivered not only tractors but also 10 combine harvesters, 12 mobile workshops, 9,000 implements, and an equal number of spare part kits. He added that the program targets over 550,000 hectares of farmland, with the potential to produce more than 2 million metric tons of food, create 16,000 jobs, and support over half a million farming households.
Other features include GPS tracking for transparency, compulsory training for operators, a structured repayment model, and allocations for research institutions.
Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, Viktor Karankevich, who represented President Alexander Lukashenko, commended Nigeria’s leadership for the scale and timing of the initiative. He highlighted the reliability of Belarusian machinery and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the next phases of the project, including local assembly plants, service centres, and training programs for Nigerians.
“Agricultural mechanization is just one example of our cooperation. It confirms the immense potential of Belarus–Nigeria relations, grounded in friendship, equality, mutual respect, and trust,” he said.
He also delivered a personal letter and invitation from President Lukashenko to President Tinubu to visit Belarus.
The commissioning was attended by top government officials, including APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, lawmakers, representatives of farmers’ cooperatives, and international development partners.
