RismadarVoice Reporters
June 12, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed the central role of agriculture in his administration’s economic recovery agenda, announcing plans to deploy 10,000 tractors nationwide to enhance food production and drive agricultural transformation.
In his Democracy Day address, the President highlighted ongoing investments in infrastructure and mechanisation, describing them as critical tools for connecting farmers to markets, expanding economic opportunities and strengthening the agricultural value chain.
Tinubu stated that the tractor deployment programme, to be implemented through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), will span five years and is expected to stimulate enterprise growth, create jobs and improve productivity across the agricultural sector.
According to the President, the initiative forms part of broader economic reforms aimed at reducing inflation, increasing food availability and improving the living conditions of Nigerians despite prevailing economic challenges.
The tractor programme follows a major procurement agreement between NADF and AGCOMS International Trading Limited valued at about $70 million. Under the arrangement, 2,000 John Deere tractors will be supplied to farmers across the country as the first phase of the larger mechanisation initiative.
Speaking on the project, NADF Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, described it as a strategic intervention designed to modernise farming practices and boost agricultural output nationwide.
He explained that the programme extends beyond the acquisition of tractors and includes complementary equipment such as harrows, ridgers and combine harvesters needed for efficient large-scale farming operations.
Ibrahim disclosed that the initiative received approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and was preceded by extensive negotiations with John Deere and other key stakeholders to ensure effective implementation.
He also revealed that arrangements have been made with the Nigerian Ports Authority to establish an assembly facility that will support local assembly and nationwide distribution of the equipment.
According to him, the project is expected not only to improve farmers’ access to modern machinery but also to encourage local industrial development, promote technical expertise and generate employment opportunities.
Country Director of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, Chijioke Okoli, noted that the programme should be viewed as a comprehensive agricultural mechanisation strategy rather than a simple equipment procurement exercise.
Industry observers believe the planned deployment of 10,000 tractors could significantly transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape by reducing dependence on manual farming, increasing cultivated farmland and improving overall productivity, thereby contributing to enhanced national food security.
