By Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday formally launched Nigeria’s largest-ever agricultural mechanisation drive, declaring the start of a national “agricultural renaissance” with the commissioning of 2,000 tractors at a ceremony held in Sheda, Abuja.
The fleet of tractors, procured in collaboration with the Republic of Belarus under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, is set to be deployed across the country through a service-provider model designed to empower smallholder farmers, boost productivity, and reduce reliance on manual labour.
“This is the first phase of our promise delivered. Nigeria must achieve food security, agricultural independence, and eventually, become a global agricultural powerhouse,” President Tinubu said at the commissioning, which took place at the National Agricultural Seeds Council along the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway.
The president, who declared a state of emergency on food security in July 2023, said Monday’s launch is a critical milestone in efforts to achieve food sovereignty, rural development, and youth empowerment.
He also highlighted the role of international partners, notably Belarus, in supporting the initiative with equipment, training, and technology transfer. “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,” Tinubu declared.
President Tinubu paid tribute to Belarusian businessman and University of Chicago classmate Alex Sigman for facilitating the cross-national partnership and praised the role of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for driving the programme.
Massive Impact Anticipated
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari described the initiative as the largest agricultural mechanisation effort in Nigeria’s history. He said the programme is expected to:
Cultivate over 550,000 hectares of farmland
Produce more than 2 million metric tons of staple food
Create over 16,000 jobs
Benefit more than 550,000 farming households
The Belarus-supported project includes not only tractors but also 10 combine harvesters, 12 mobile workshops, 9,000 farming implements, and 9,000 spare parts kits. It will also roll out GPS-enabled monitoring, structured repayment models, and free allocations for research institutions.
Kyari further stated that the programme would engage youth in equipment operation, logistics, maintenance, and agri-tech roles.
Belarus Commits to Deeper Cooperation
Viktor Karankevich, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, delivered a goodwill message from President Alexander Lukashenko and presented an official invitation to President Tinubu to visit Belarus. He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to further phases of cooperation, including:
Setting up local assembly plants for farming equipment
Establishing grain storage complexes
Creating training and service centres
Deepening technological transfer in agriculture and other sectors
“We come to Africa as friends,” Karankevich said. “We are ready to help you become masters of your land.”
The event was attended by key government officials, lawmakers, development partners, and representatives from farmers’ cooperatives. It signals what the administration hopes will be a turning point in Nigeria’s journey toward agricultural transformation and economic resilience.