Tinubu Directs Deployment Of 10,000 Tractors To Boost Nigeria's Agriculture

President Bola Tinubu directs NADF to deploy 10,000 John Deere tractors to boost food production, with 2,000 units arriving in 2025 as part of a major agricultural mechanization initiative.

ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) to lead the distribution of 10,000 John Deere tractors across Nigeria, aiming to significantly enhance food production and mechanization.

The initial phase will involve the delivery of 2,000 tractors starting between Q1 and Q2 of 2025, with plans to expand to the full 10,000 units over the next five years.

During the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with John Deere at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja, NADF’s Executive Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed that the first batch of tractors will arrive at Lagos port before the wet farming season begins.

He emphasized that NADF has been entrusted to implement one of the Federal Government’s mechanization initiatives under President Tinubu’s leadership, designed to diversify the economy and modernize agriculture. Ibrahim detailed that after receiving Federal Executive Council approval in October 2024, NADF engaged in thorough negotiations with John Deere and consulted stakeholders through international mechanization partner Haifa to ensure effective implementation.

To expedite the process, NADF has also finalized an MoU with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). This agreement will facilitate the establishment of an assembly plant near the ports, ensuring smooth distribution across the country.

Engr. Okoli Chijioke, Country Director of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, the sub-dealer of John Deere tractors in Nigeria, disclosed that the MoU is valued at $70 million for the procurement of the initial 2,000 tractors. He highlighted the importance of the assembly plant in not only facilitating the delivery but also equipping Nigerian youth with the skills to maintain and assemble the machinery for long-term productivity.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, praised NADF for securing the MoU with AGCOMS and reaffirmed the Federal Executive Council’s commitment to supporting the mechanization drive. He encouraged NADF to ensure timely distribution of the tractors before the wet season, emphasizing the potential to attract young Nigerians to agribusiness.