In a bold move aimed at revamping Nigeria’s ailing agricultural sector, President Bola Tinubu on Monday launched 2,000 tractors for immediate deployment across the country under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme.
The high-profile commissioning ceremony, held at the National Agricultural Seeds Council, Sheda, along the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway, officially flagged off the mechanisation initiative that the President described as a major step toward ensuring food security and rural prosperity.
“This is the beginning of Nigeria’s agricultural renaissance,” Tinubu declared, adding that the programme represents the fulfilment of promises made when he assumed office. “Two years ago, I raised the alarm on our food security situation. Today, we begin to answer that call with action.”
The 2,000 tractors, which come with implements and modern attachments, will be distributed through a service-provider model to support smallholder farmers, reduce manual labour, and boost yields. The equipment was procured in collaboration with the Republic of Belarus through AfTrade DMCC.
The President emphasized the programme’s significance in addressing both national food needs and the aspiration to become an agricultural exporter.
“We want to feed ourselves and feed the world,” Tinubu said. “We have the land. We have the people. And now, we have the tools. Let history remember this day.”
In an emotional aside, Tinubu acknowledged the role of Belarusian businessman and his former University of Chicago classmate, Alex Sigman, in facilitating the partnership. “Who would have thought a friendship from the classroom would blossom into this global collaboration?” he said.
The President also hailed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for spearheading the project, warning that stakeholders must use the equipment judiciously or face sanctions. “We will supervise and hold you accountable,” he cautioned.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, described the event as a watershed in Nigeria’s agricultural journey. According to him, the Belarus partnership has delivered 2,000 tractors, 10 combine harvesters, 12 mobile workshops, 9,000 implements, and spare part kits.
“This is the largest single mechanisation intervention in Nigeria’s history,” Kyari said, noting that the project would open up over 550,000 hectares of farmland, produce 2 million metric tons of food, and create over 16,000 jobs.
Additional components of the scheme include GPS-enabled tracking, structured repayment models, operator training, and free allocations to research institutes.
Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister, Viktor Karankevich, in his goodwill message, conveyed warm wishes from President Alexander Lukashenko and reaffirmed Belarus’ commitment to deepening ties with Nigeria.
“Our goal is to help you become masters of your land,” Karankevich said, noting that Belarus was ready to move into the next phases of the collaboration, which include local assembly of equipment, service hubs, and training facilities.
Karankevich also delivered a personal letter from Lukashenko, inviting Tinubu to visit Belarus.
The event was attended by top government officials and dignitaries, including APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago; lawmakers, farmer cooperatives, and development partners.
The Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme forms part of Tinubu’s broader agenda to tackle hunger, stimulate rural economies, and reposition Nigeria as a force in global food production.
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