President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday launched an ambitious agricultural mechanisation initiative, signalling a new era in Nigeria’s quest to revolutionise food production and empower its youth.
At the unveiling of the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme in Abuja, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria into a global agricultural powerhouse.
In a bold declaration, Tinubu said the government’s sweeping reforms aim to make farming not only more productive but also appealing to younger generations.
“We want to make agriculture more attractive, more sexy, and a true engine of prosperity for our youth,” Tinubu said.
The programme features the deployment of over 2,000 advanced tractors, 50 industrial-grade bulldozers, 12 mobile workshops, and more than 9,000 farming implements, all designed to ease labour, boost yields, and fast-track Nigeria’s journey toward food sovereignty.
“You don’t have to use 18th-century tools in a 21st-century world,” the President quipped, highlighting the urgency of modernising traditional farming techniques.
President Tinubu also revealed ongoing collaborations with international partners, including Belarus, to train Nigerian youth in modern agricultural techniques, machine operation, and equipment fabrication.
“Our friends across the world are ready to help us empower young Nigerians — to get them off the street and into productive, self-sufficient work,” he said.
The strategy, he explained, is tailored for year-round farming, a direct response to Nigeria’s historic dependence on seasonal agriculture.
With Nigeria’s vast arable land and favourable climate, Tinubu urged Nigerians to seize this moment to break free from food imports and build an independent, resilient agricultural economy.
“Let history remember this day as the turning point — the dawn of a new Nigerian agricultural renaissance,” he said.
He issued a firm directive to stakeholders benefiting from the programme: use the tools wisely or be held accountable.
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Also speaking at the event, Minister of State for Agriculture, Aliyu Abdullahi, praised the programme as the first of four strategic initiatives under Tinubu’s food security mandate.
He said the equipment will help Nigeria leap from a mechanisation level of 0.27 horsepower per hectare to nearly 2.5 horsepower per hectare, aligning with global standards.
“Farmers no longer need to labour under backbreaking conditions. This is about turning effort into output — doubling productivity, and lifting farming from drudgery to dignity,” Abdullahi noted.
As Nigeria grapples with food inflation and security challenges, this programme marks a crucial step in stabilising the food system and creating jobs.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Tinubu noted, deserves credit for its quick rollout and clear execution roadmap.
With this move, Nigeria signals its intention to not just feed itself — but to lead Africa in agricultural innovation and output.