In a significant step toward agricultural transformation, President Bola Tinubu on Monday launched the deployment of 2,000 tractors under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanization Program. The launch, held at the National Agricultural Seeds Council in Abuja, signals the start of Nigeria's largest mechanization drive to date, aimed at boosting food production and modernizing farming practices nationwide.
Speaking at the event, President Tinubu said the initiative is part of his administration's broader food security agenda.
"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."
The tractors will be distributed through a service-provider model, giving smallholder farmers access to equipment that will reduce manual labour and significantly increase productivity. Tinubu emphasized the need to achieve agricultural independence, stating, "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."
The President credited Belarus for playing a vital role in supplying the tractors and providing technical support. He also acknowledged Belarusian businessman Alex Sigman, a former university classmate, for facilitating the collaboration.
"Alex was my very good neighbouring and schoolmate in Chicago... working together to promote the prosperity of our two countries."
Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari described the project as the most ambitious in Nigeria's history. Alongside the 2,000 tractors, the initiative also includes 10 combine harvesters, 12 mobile workshops, and 9,000 spare parts and implements. It is expected to benefit over 550,000 farming households, create more than 16,000 jobs, and help cultivate 550,000 hectares of land.
Additional programmed features include operator training, GPS-enabled tracking for transparency, and new roles for youth in areas like logistics, equipment handling, and agri-tech services. The goal, officials say, is not just mechanization, but long-term rural empowerment.
Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Karankevich, representing President Alexander Lukashenko, reaffirmed his country's commitment to the partnership and announced future plans to establish local assembly plants and training centers in Nigeria.
"Today, Belarusian machinery begins to serve the people of Nigeria.... This marks the first phase of a landmark bilateral project."
Karankevich also delivered a personal invitation from President Lukashenko for President Tinubu to visit Belarus to deepen agricultural and economic ties between both nations.
The event was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including APC Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, lawmakers, and representatives of farmers's cooperatives, underscoring the wide support for Nigeria's agricultural revival under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
