Nigeria Unveils Agricultural Program to Enhance Food Security, Empower Youths

By Katherine Abayomi
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President Bola Tinubu unveils over 2,000 tractors and modern farming equipment to revolutionize Nigeria’s agriculture

In a bold move to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, President Bola Tinubu recently launched an extensive fleet of over 2,000 tractors, along with 2,000 disc ploughs, disc harrows, ridgers, and other advanced implements aimed at boosting food production nationwide. The initiative also includes 1,200 tractor-trailers, 500 seed drills, 300 boom sprayers, 10 harvesters, 12 mobile workshops, and over 9,000 sets of spare parts, all imported from the Republic of Belarus, Eastern Europe.

This mechanization drive is set to modernize farming practices, making agriculture more appealing to Nigerian youths and shifting the sector from subsistence to large-scale, commercial farming. The government projects that these efforts will cultivate over 550,000 hectares of farmland, produce more than 2 million metric tons of staple foods, and generate over 16,000 jobs across the country.

Addressing the nation, President Tinubu emphasized that deploying these modern tools will help Nigeria achieve food sufficiency and security amid rising food import bills, inflation, and currency depreciation. Nigeria’s food import expenditure reached N6.58 trillion in 2024—a 71.99% increase from the previous year—highlighting the urgent need for increased local food production.

In collaboration with Brazil through the over $1 billion Nigeria-Brazil Green Imperative Agricultural Initiative, the government aims to further deepen mechanized farming and livestock development. This partnership will deliver advanced equipment, training, and service centers, creating jobs and increasing productivity.

Despite these promising steps, experts note that the initial deployment of 2,000 tractors is just the beginning. They advocate for increased investment from state governments to expand mechanization efforts, leveraging regional resources and fostering a more diversified agricultural sector—ranging from rice, beans, and grains to fruits such as mangoes and cashews.

Furthermore, reforms in livestock husbandry are crucial. Moving away from traditional nomadic cattle rearing towards ranching practices aligned with global standards will reduce conflicts and improve product quality.

To realize these ambitions, the government must prioritize agriculture in national budgets, provide farmers with affordable credit, and encourage private sector participation. Equally vital is addressing insecurity in regions affected by insurgency, banditry, and terrorism, without which the vision of a self-sufficient Nigeria remains unattainable.

This ambitious agricultural reform underscores Nigeria’s rich potential to harness its vast arable land and water resources, not only to feed its over 200 million citizens but also to emerge as a major food exporter in Africa and beyond.