The Federal Government, through the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has begun the phased distribution of over 2,000 tractors, heavy-duty equipment, and more than 9,000 precision implements to mechanised farmers across Nigeria.
This initiative forms part of the Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (NAMP), described by officials as the largest agricultural mechanisation effort ever undertaken in Africa.
The programme is designed to significantly increase farming productivity, target the cultivation of over 1.5 million hectares annually, and indirectly benefit up to 1.2 million smallholder farmers through improved access to mechanised services.
At the flag-off ceremony in Sheda, Abuja, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, highlighted that the deployment addresses Nigeria’s chronic shortage of mechanisation and supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which positions agriculture as a core driver of national food security, economic growth, and reduced reliance on food imports.
Key features of the programme include:
Phased rollout:
An initial batch of 600 tractors, followed by 750 and then 650, to reach the total of 2,000 units (many sourced from Belarus).
Service-based model: Tractors will be managed by certified mechanisation service providers (often youth- and women-led enterprises) rather than distributed for private ownership.
Farmers will access them on a pay-per-service basis, with each tractor expected to cover approximately 600 hectares per year.
Sustainability measures: Structured financing from the BOA, mandatory three-year servicing agreements, and partnerships with Heifer International and Heifer Nigeria to ensure long-term maintenance, accountability, and economic viability for operators.
Complementary efforts: The programme aligns with other reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including a ₦50 billion seed fund through the Bank of Industry for agro-industrial development, improved fertiliser access, and broader value-chain investments.
BOA Managing Director Ayodeji Sotinrin noted the overwhelming interest in the scheme, with over 10,000 applications received in the early stages, and stressed that this approach avoids the pitfalls of previous tractor distribution programmes by focusing on professional service delivery and rigorous oversight.
Distribution is actively underway across various states, with officials encouraging verification of beneficiaries through official channels such as the Ministry of Agriculture or BOA platforms.
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