President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria’s agricultural renaissance has begun, as he commissioned 2,000 tractors for nationwide deployment under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme. The ceremony marked the programme’s formal launch at the National Agricultural Seeds Council in Abuja.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agriculture sector by modernising farming practices and ensuring national food security. He described the initiative as a landmark moment in his administration’s food security agenda and a crucial part of efforts to empower farmers and stimulate rural development. The President noted that the programme would support smallholder farmers with access to modern equipment, reduce manual labour, and increase yields.
The 2,000 tractors and accompanying implements were procured from Belarus, with the support of international partners. President Tinubu acknowledged the contributions of Belarus and paid special tribute to Alex Sigman, a Belarusian businessman and former classmate, for facilitating the collaboration. The President commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for its proactive leadership in rolling out the programme and called for strict stakeholder accountability.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari outlined the programme’s expected impact, including cultivating over 550,000 hectares of farmland, producing more than 2 million metric tons of staple food, creating over 16,000 jobs, and directly benefiting over 550,000 farming households. The programme also includes mandatory operator training, GPS-enabled tracking, and a structured repayment model.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, Viktor Karenkevich, congratulated President Tinubu and the people of Nigeria on the initiative, describing it as a testament to the enduring friendship between the two countries. He confirmed Belarus’ readiness to move into the second and third phases of the programme, which include establishing service centres, local assembly plants, and training Nigerians to operate and maintain advanced farming machinery.