Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
In a historic stride toward achieving agricultural revolution and food security, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has delivered a landmark milestone with the launch of the National Agricultural Development Fund’s (NADF) mechanization initiative.
Truth Live News gathered that this initiative, a key aspect of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for economic diversification, is set to deploy 10,000 John Deere tractors across Nigeria, starting with an initial rollout of 2,000 units by Q1/Q2 2025.
The strategic plan was solidified through a contract signing ceremony between NADF and John Deere at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja. Speaking at the event, NADF’s Executive Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, emphasized the program’s critical importance to the administration’s vision of transforming Nigeria into a diversified economy with agriculture as a cornerstone.
“The National Agricultural Development Fund, NADF, as we have mentioned earlier, has been mandated to implement one of the four mechanization programmes of the Federal Government of Nigeria, led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who aspires to see Nigeria transition from a monolithic economy and make agriculture central to this vision,” Ibrahim stated.
According to him, the initiative underscores a well-coordinated plan for implementation. “We have various mechanization programmes, so the NADF is implementing one. The one we are implementing is the John Deere 2,000 tractors. This entails everything—the normal contract terms and conditions of this program’s implementation. The plan, henceforth, as we mentioned, received the conveyance of the Federal Executive Council in October 2024, and we have taken three months for robust and intensive negotiations with John Deere.”
The rollout will include extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure its success. Ibrahim noted, “We hosted a stakeholder engagement facilitated by an international mechanization partner, Haifa, to address key points and ensure that we draw lessons from past experiences. This will now drive us to conclude the implementation programme. The John Deere tractors, hopefully, will be delivered before the wet season.”
To fast-track the project, the NADF signed additional contracts with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), enabling John Deere AGCOMS International Trading Limited to establish an assembly plant near the ports. “This facility will not only facilitate swift delivery and distribution of tractors across the nation but also provide opportunities for Nigerian youths to acquire technical expertise in assembly and maintenance,” Ibrahim explained.
Engr. Okoli Chijioke, Country Director of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, confirmed the initiative’s financial and technical specifics. “The total contract value for the 2,000 tractors is $70 million, covering procurement and delivery to collection centers in Abuja and Lagos for the first two years. The assembly plant will play a crucial role in providing continuity, training youths, and ensuring decades of efficient usage of the tractors.”
Senator Kyari, while commending the NADF for this historic achievement, expressed optimism that this mechanization effort would revolutionize Nigeria’s agricultural sector, attract young Nigerians to agribusiness, and ensure timely preparation for the wet season farming. “This is a significant step forward. The Federal Executive Council fully backs this initiative, and I am confident these tractors will be delivered and distributed to farmers as planned. The impact on food security, employment, and economic diversification will be profound,” the Minister declared.
Driving the Agricultural Revolution
The Minister’s leadership and commitment to agriculture’s mechanization agenda have positioned Nigeria on the verge of an agricultural revolution. By ensuring the timely implementation of President Tinubu’s vision, Senator Abubakar Kyari has solidified his legacy as a champion of food security and youth empowerment in the country.
This milestone signifies a new era in which agriculture becomes not just a means of sustenance but a key driver of economic transformation. As the wet season approaches, all eyes are on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to deliver on this promise, bringing hope and opportunity to millions of farmers across Nigeria.
While the initiative sets the tone for an agricultural renaissance, its success will depend on sustained political will, efficient coordination, and transparent distribution of resources. The Nigerian public eagerly awaits the fulfillment of these promises, which could redefine the nation’s economic trajectory.
