…To Boost Mechanised Farming, Tinubu Unveils 2,000 Tractors…Vows To Make Farming Attractive To Youths, Create Jobs…Pledges To Turn Rural Communities Into Prosperity Hubs
Farmers and agricultural stake-holders have expressed optimism that the recent move by the Fed-eral Government and the Nige-ria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to eliminate illegal checkpoints and harmonise levies across the coun-try will ease their burden, boost food production, and ultimately lead to lower food prices.
The Federal Government on Thursday launched a coordinat-ed effort with state governors to dismantle barriers in the food supply chain and strengthen local security systems, amid growing public concern over soaring food prices and worsening insecurity.
The move followed a meeting between the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), and key federal officials, where urgent steps were outlined to address inflationary pressures, curb un-lawful checkpoints, and support community-based security initia-tives across the country.
The 36 state governors pledged to work closely with the Federal Government to harmonise levies, dismantle illegal checkpoints, and ensure the free flow of food and goods across Nigeria.
For years, farmers and trans-porters have battled harassment, extortion, and delays while mov-ing food from rural production zones to urban markets.
These challenges, stakehold-ers in separate interviews with Daily Independent, said have dis-couraged production, increased post-harvest losses, and inflated food prices nationwide.
The stakeholders welcomed the commitment by the NGF to collaborate with the Federal Government in removing illegal checkpoints, harmonising levies, and enhancing the free move-ment of goods across the country.
They described the develop-ment as timely and long overdue, saying that the current burden of unofficial fees, harassment at checkpoints, and poor road infrastructure have significantly distorted Nigeria’s food supply chain, escalated prices, and dis-couraged production, particu-larly for smallholder farmers and transporters of perishable produce.
Tunde Banjoko, the Chair-man, Lagos Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (LCCI), Agric and Agro Allied Group, welcomed the governors’ deci-sion, saying it could be a turning point for the sector.
“It is a very good move and a welcome development. These illegal checkpoints have really discouraged a lot of farmers, especially those producing fresh vegetables. Many have stopped because they’re frustrated.”
He explained that farm pro-duce is often held up at check-points managed by touts pretend-ing to be government agents, with transporters forced to pay bribes at multiple stops. “Transporters now avoid picking agricultural goods to avoid harassment. This reduces the volume of food in markets and drives up prices.”
According to Banjoko, elimi-nating illegal collections will ease farmers’ struggles, reduce logis-tics costs, and reflect positively on food prices.
“Let them scrap it. Farmers are already battling high produc-tion costs, flooding, and lack of access to equipment. Removing these illegal levies is a step in the right direction.”
Femi Oke, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State chapter, shared similar sentiments, noting that removing checkpoints would reduce inflation and help farmers meet production timelines.
“Losses are huge, especially for perishable and livestock com-modities. Removing illegal check-points will save time and reduce waste,” he said.
Kabir Ibrahim, the National President of AFAN, pointed out that the cost of transporting food is often passed down to consum-ers.
“Undue multiple taxation must be avoided as it is natural-ly added to the cost of food. The decision to do away with illegal checkpoints and multiple levies will reduce distribution costs and help crash food inflation.”
He urged the government to go further by improving rural roads and creating aggregation centres across all geopolitical zones.
Ibrahim also suggested the use of special rail lines and subsidised fuel for agricultural vehicles to further cut costs and improve supply.
Chi Tola-Robert, the Chief Operating Officer of Capacious Farms and Foods, said that the removal of illegal checkpoints would directly benefit smallhold-er farmers. “Transportation costs go up because of bribes. Buyers then reduce what they offer farmers at the farm gate, which reduces farmer income and in-creases prices in the cities,” she explained.
She advocated reforms that include digitised, harmonised levies and independent moni-toring to prevent new forms of extortion.
“Without proper oversight, illegal practices may simply con-tinue under official titles,” she warned.
For farmers and consumers alike, the governors’ promise of-fers a glimpse of hope. With the removal of bottlenecks along Ni-geria’s agricultural routes, food could become more accessible and affordable if the reforms are fully implemented and closely monitored.
To Boost Mechanised Farming, Tinubu Unveils 2,000 Tractors
President Bola Tinubu on Monday unveiled a total of 2,000 tractors for nationwide deploy-ment under the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme.
He said the significance of the tractors is to welcome Nigeria’s agricultural renaissance for food surplus in the country.
The commissioning took place at the National Agricultur-al Seeds Council, Sheda, along the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway.
The president reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agri-culture sector by modernising farming practices and ensuring national food security.
He described the initiative as a landmark moment in his admin-istration’s food security agenda and a crucial part of efforts to empower farmers and stimulate rural development.
“We are very proud of what we are doing. We made a prom-ise when we came in. We are ful-filling that promise. Two years ago, I sounded the alarm on our nation’s food security crisis. I demanded immediate and inno-vative solutions. That, again, is answered today—this is the first phase of it.
“This government recognises that agricultural productivity is synonymous with national sta-bility and food sovereignty. The ability to nourish our population forms the bedrock of a prosper-ous nation. Our ambition extends beyond mere self-sufficiency.
“We envision Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse— supplying quality produce to international markets while en-suring every citizen can access affordable, nutritious food.
“That’s why we took a bold decision to establish this new agricultural mechanisation pro-gramme. We are just beginning,” he said.
The president disclosed that the 2,000 tractors and accompanying implements would be distributed nationwide through a service-pro-vider model to support smallhold-er farmers with access to modern equipment, reduce manual labour, and increase yields.
“We must seize this oppor-tunity to achieve agricultural independence. Nigeria has the land, the people, and the tools. Let history recall this day as the beginning of Nigeria’s agricul-tural renaissance—where mod-ern technology met our farmers’ legendary resilience to usher in greater prosperity,” he said.
The president acknowledged the contributions of internation-al partners, especially the Repub-lic of Belarus, which played a key role in procuring the equipment, transferring technology, and providing training support for Nigerians.
“We have friends across the world. We have Belarus com-mitted to a programme that will empower our youth—teach them how to do things, get them off the streets, and empower them in technology, machinery, and fab-rication,” he said.
President Tinubu paid special tribute to Alex Sigman, a Belar-usian businessman and former classmate at the University of Chicago, for facilitating the col-laboration.
“Alex was my very good neigh-bour and schoolmate in Chicago. Never did we dream that I would become president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Alex, a successful businessman from Belarus—working together to promote the prosperity of our two countries.
“I believe our university will be very proud that we are doing this here today,” he said.
President Tinubu commend-ed the Federal Ministry of Agri-culture and Food Security for its proactive leadership in rolling out the programme and called for strict stakeholder accountability.
“To all stakeholders receiving this equipment, deploy it with maximum efficiency. We will work with you, supervise you, and hold you accountable,” the president stated.
President Tinubu urged Ni-gerians to take ownership of the agricultural transformation drive and contribute actively to achiev-ing food sovereignty.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, recalled that on July 13, 2023, Pres-ident Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security and issued a presidential directive for urgent and innovative solutions.
He noted that mechanisation was placed at the core of the ad-ministration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister outlined four key initiatives launched under the Tinubu administration’s mechanisation policy, including the John Deere Tractorisation Programme, the Greener Hope Project, the Green Imperative Programme, and the newly launched 2000 tractors procured from Belarus.
According to him, the Belarus Project, implemented in collabo-ration with AfTrade DMCC and supported by the Republic of Be-larus, delivered 2,000 high-quality tractors, 10 combine harvesters, 12 mobile workshops, 9,000 imple-ments, and 9,000 spare part kits.
“This will make farming easi-er, create jobs, and make it ‘sexier’ for our youths,” he announced.
“Never in Nigeria’s history have we witnessed an agricul-tural mechanisation initiative of this scale, ambition, and nation-al focus. We are today unveiling the single largest mechanisation drive ever undertaken in our country,” the minister said.
He added that the programme is expected to cultivate over 550,000 hectares of farmland, pro-duce more than 2 million metric tons of staple food, create over 16,000 jobs, and directly benefit over 550,000 farming households.
Other programme compo-nents include mandatory op-erator training, GPS-enabled tracking for accountability, a structured repayment model, and pro bono equipment alloca-tions to research and training institutions.
He further stated that the initiative will engage Nigerians youth through new roles in equip-ment handling, maintenance, logistics, extension services, and agri-tech innovation.
Viktor Karenkevich, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, con-gratulated the Nigerian leader and the people of Nigeria for initiating a strategic and timely intervention to strengthen nation-al food security.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Belarus’ President, Alexander Lukashenko, the dep-uty president described President Tinubu’s choice of Belarus as a trusted partner in the supply of agricultural machinery as a tes-tament to the enduring friendship between the two countries.
He noted that Belarusian equipment is known for quality, affordability, and durability and is present in over 100 countries worldwide.
Karankevich recalled that both nations signed a roadmap agreement during the 2024 Bela-gro Exhibition in Minsk, setting the foundation for joint agricul-tural mechanisation efforts.
“Today, Belarusian machinery begins to serve the people of Nige-ria. This marks the first phase of a landmark bilateral project that has already elevated our coopera-tion to a new level”, he said.
He confirmed Belarus’ readi-ness to move into the second and third phases of the programme.
He said the phases include establishing service and main-tenance centres for Belarusian machinery in Nigeria, setting up local assembly plants for agricul-tural equipment, constructing grain storage complexes, and training Nigerians to operate and maintain advanced farming machinery.
“Agricultural mechanisation is just one example of our coop-eration.
“It confirms the immense potential of Belarus–Nigeria re-lations, grounded in friendship, equality, mutual respect, and trust,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister echoed the words of President Lu-kashenko on Belarus’ approach to Africa, saying: “We come to Afri-ca as friends. We are ready to help you become masters of your land, to benefit your people, and to de-velop your industry, agriculture, science, and technology.”
Karankevich delivered a per-sonal letter and official invitation from President Lukashenko to President Tinubu, inviting the Nigerian leader to visit Belarus at a future date.
Tinubu Vows To Turn Rural Communi-ties Into Prosperity Hubs
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that his administration is committed to transforming rural communi-ties across Nigeria into engines of prosperity through strategic infrastructure investments.
He made this pledge on Mon-day in Abuja while commission-ing the newly constructed 15-ki-lometre A2 Junction–Pai Town Road in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking at the event, Tinu-bu emphasised the symbolic and economic significance of the road project, describing it as a critical link to unlock opportunities in ag-riculture, commerce, education, and rural enterprise.
“Rural communities such as Pai make an important con-tribution to Nigeria’s social and economic fabric, especially in food production and local enter-prises. But their potential has been hindered by poor road ac-cess, isolation, and neglect for far too long. Today, that narrative is changing,” the president said.
He commended the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for prioritising development in un-derserved communities, noting that his efforts are shaping a more inclusive and balanced national growth agenda.
“A leader like Barr. Nyesom Wike and his team is doing a won-derful job thinking about the peo-ple and their needs, and thinking about the country he represents,” Tinubu stated.
The president also called for the establishment of ranches and grazing opportunities, linking the road project to wider rural trans-formation goals.
He assured local farmers and livestock owners of his admin-istration’s readiness to support them in turning former sources of conflict into channels of pros-perity.
“On my way here, I observed the need for our great farmers and livestock owners to establish opportunities for grazing and do what is necessary. We will help you. We will work with you,” Tinubu assured.
He stressed that infrastruc-ture must serve the people and catalyse grassroots development.
“The road and infrastructure development are meaningless if we don’t develop them for the benefit of our people. This proj-ect will continue to elevate lives if this administration continues to prioritise infrastructure devel-opment in all zones.”
To the people of Pai Town, Tinubu said the road is not just a government project but a com-munity asset.
“To the people of Pai, this is your road. I urge the community to take ownership of this infra-structure, guide it, maintain it, and use it to the fullest. Let it be a pathway to growth and a bridge to a better life for the youth, farmers, traders, and students,” he urged.
He also praised the contrac-tors for delivering high-quality work, calling them “partners in national development.”
The president concluded with a charge for continued efforts to-ward equity in governance.
“We will ensure that develop-ment is not lopsided but balanced, inclusive, and targets lifting lives. We will continue until every Nige-rian can feel the touch of mean-ingful governance.”
Earlier, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, declared Presi-dent Bola Ahmed Tinubu a true champion of rural development, revealing that over 150 kilometres of roads have been constructed and commissioned in the FCT’s satellite towns since May 2023.
“Today, of all the commis-sions, this one, for me, I consider very, very important,” Wike said.
“I recall telling Mr. President it would be great if he could visit just one of the rural roads and see how joyous the people would be. If you look opposite you today, you will see that the people are very, very, very happy.”
The minister explained that the construction of the Pai-Go-mani axis became critical when the road beyond Pai was already under construction. He thanked the contractor for completing the stretch in time to mark the pres-ident’s second year in office, and announced that the next phase from Gomani to Yangoji (13 km) is set to begin.
Wike, who gave a detailed breakdown of completed rural road projects under President Tinubu’s watch, said: “When we were appointed in August 2023, in your supplementary budget, you approved our request for emergency roads. You provided funds, and today I want to inform you that all six emergency roads across the six area councils have been commissioned.”
He credited President Tinubu for making the rapid infrastruc-ture rollout possible, noting that without presidential backing and budgetary support, the transfor-mation would have remained impossible.
“You gave us the appointment, but more importantly, you gave us the support. Without it, we couldn’t have achieved anything,” he said.
“When the people are happy, you will be happy. And I am sure, as you leave here today, you will be very, very happy even when you get to the Villa.”