Tinubu Unveils Major Agricultural Mechanisation Drive, Promises to Empower Youths Through Modern Farming

By Iyojo Ameh

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday launched the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme in Abuja, pledging that his administration is on course to transform Nigeria into a global agricultural powerhouse and make farming attractive to young Nigerians.

The President said the initiative is part of broader reforms aimed at improving food security, reducing dependence on seasonal farming, and providing Nigerian youths with the tools and training needed to thrive in modern agriculture.

“We have here over 2,000 advanced tractors, 50 industrial grade land preparation bulldozers, 12 fully equipped mobile workshops, and 9,000 plus specialised farming implements,” Tinubu announced at the launch event.

“This equipment, when deployed, will empower mechanisation and service providers, create job opportunities, and make farming easy and more sexy for our young ones,” he said. “You don’t have to use an 18th-century method for a 21st-century agricultural farming implement.”

The President emphasised that the Federal Government is collaborating with international partners to equip Nigerian youths with practical skills for self-reliance in agriculture.

“We have friends across the world. Belarus, for instance, is committed to a programme that will empower our youths, teach them how to do things, get them off the street, empower them in technology, mechanisation, machine repairs, and fabrication,” he said.

According to Tinubu, the goal is not only to make Nigeria food secure but also agriculturally independent.

“Given our nation’s arable land and favourable climate, we must seize the opportunity to achieve complete agricultural independence and food sovereignty,” he said.

The President urged beneficiaries of the programme to make judicious use of the agricultural equipment and warned that the government would ensure proper monitoring and accountability.

“To all stakeholders receiving this equipment, deploy it with maximum efficiency. We will work with you, supervise you at various locations, and hold you accountable,” he warned.
“Let history record this day as the beginning of Nigeria’s agricultural renaissance where modern technology meets our farmers’ legendary resilience to create unprecedented prosperity.”

Also speaking at the launch, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, said the scheme is the first of four key programmes mandated by the President to address the country’s food and farming challenges.

Abdullahi said Nigeria currently lags in mechanised farming, with a mechanisation rate of just 0.27 horsepower per hectare, far below global standards.

“This programme was designed to bring down the level of low mechanisation in the country,” he said. “With this intervention, that figure will rise to almost 2.5 horsepower per hectare, which is the global average.”

The minister noted that the newly introduced equipment will significantly ease the burden on farmers, improve productivity, and potentially double crop yields.

“Farmers are known to be interested in farming without drudgery,” he said. “Where we used to get two tons per hectare, we can now aim for four tons. This is a turning point for our agricultural sector.”

President Tinubu also commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for what he called its proactive role in tackling food insecurity and working towards a stable and sustainable agricultural system in Nigeria.

The Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme is one of the administration’s flagship initiatives aimed at reviving the rural economy, increasing youth employment, and improving food production across the country.