The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched what it describes as the largest single agricultural mechanisation programme ever undertaken on the continent, unveiling plans to deploy 2,000 tractors and more than 9,000 precision implements nationwide to boost productivity and strengthen food security.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially flagged off the initiative under the Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, signalling a decisive shift from equipment distribution to a structured, service-driven mechanisation model.

Speaking at the launch, Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said the programme is designed to close Nigeria’s long-standing mechanisation gap and reposition agriculture as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth.

Nigeria’s tractor density currently stands at 0.27 per 1,000 hectares—well below the African average of 2.5 and the global benchmark of 3—highlighting the urgent need for large-scale intervention.

Service-Based Deployment Model

Under the new framework, tractors will not be distributed for private ownership. Instead, they will be deployed through accredited mechanisation service providers, each expected to cover approximately 600 hectares annually. The model aims to cultivate over 1.5 million hectares per year and directly support more than 1.2 million farmers.

The rollout will occur in phases:

• 600 tractors in the first phase

• 750 in the second

• 650 in the final phase

This will culminate in a nationwide fleet of 2,000 mechanisation assets.

Each tractor will come with two years of free service support and will be backed by 36 mobile workshops and seven mega mechanisation service centres spread across the country’s geopolitical zones.

Local Assembly and Industrial Growth

Kyari revealed plans to establish a mega tractor assembly plant with the capacity to produce between 2,000 and 4,000 units annually. The move is intended to reduce import dependence while building domestic manufacturing capacity and strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.

Financing and Digital Monitoring

Ayodeji Adeyemi, Managing Director and CEO of the Bank of Agriculture, described the programme as a turning point in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, transitioning from asset handouts to a revolving, business-driven mechanisation ecosystem.

Over 10,000 applications were received for the first phase, reflecting strong demand and market confidence.

According to Adeyemi, Nigeria currently operates with about 13 tractors per 100 square kilometres of arable land, compared to a global average of 200, while more than 95 percent of farmers still rely on manual labour.

The deployment will follow three models:

• 10% allocated to agribusinesses and commercial farmers on full ownership terms

• 1,200 units deployed through state government partnerships targeting youth- and women-led enterprises

• Support for established mechanisation service providers with proven operational capacity

Financing will be structured around leasing and pay-as-you-use models, supported by digital monitoring systems. Each tractor will be fitted with IoT tracking devices to monitor location, usage, fuel consumption and maintenance schedules. Maintenance hubs will provide spare parts, technical training and after-sales support.

A $7 million catalytic investment from development partners will finance initial deployment, with full cost recovery projected within two years.

Aligning with Food Security Goals

The mechanisation programme aligns with the administration’s broader food security and economic diversification agenda. The minister also disclosed that a N250 billion wet-season financing facility has been mobilised to support one million smallholder farmers cultivating one hectare each in 2026.

Women—who account for roughly 70 percent of agricultural production activities—will remain central to the initiative, alongside youth entrepreneurs positioned to drive rural job creation.

Officials say the programme is expected to enhance productivity, strengthen agricultural value chains, reduce import dependence and position agriculture as a pillar of Nigeria’s economic resilience.