By Onoja Baba, Nigeria
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, flagged off the deployment of 2000 tractors nationwide under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme.
The commissioning event was held at the National Agricultural Seeds Council in Sheda, Abuja, marking a major step in the federal government’s effort to modernise agriculture and ensure food security.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu described the initiative as the beginning of Nigeria’s agricultural renaissance.
The president said the deployment of the tractors would support smallholder farmers, reduce manual labour, and boost productivity.
He said the tractors would be distributed through a service-provider model, enabling farmers across the country to access modern equipment.
Tinubu emphasised the need for agricultural independence and expressed confidence that Nigeria has the land, people, and tools to succeed.
He acknowledged the role of the Republic of Belarus in supplying the machinery and providing technology transfer and training support.
The president also paid tribute to Belarusian businessman Alex Sigman, a former classmate from the University of Chicago, for facilitating the collaboration.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the 2000 tractors were part of a larger partnership with Belarus through AfTrade DMCC.
He stated that the equipment includes 10 combine harvesters, 12 mobile workshops, 9000 implements, and 9000 spare part kits.
Kyari said the initiative would cultivate over 550,000 hectares of farmland, generate over 2 million metric tons of food, and create more than 16,000 jobs.
He noted that it would directly benefit over half a million farming households and engage youth in equipment handling, logistics, and agri-tech innovation.
Other components include GPS tracking for accountability, mandatory operator training, and support for research institutions.
Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, Viktor Karankevich, praised the partnership and confirmed his country’s readiness for the next phases of the programme.
He said Belarus would help establish service centres, local assembly plants, grain storage complexes, and training programmes in Nigeria.
He delivered a personal message from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, inviting President Tinubu to visit Belarus.
The event was attended by political leaders, lawmakers, farmers’ groups, and international partners.
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