Four Months After Tinubu’s ₦50 Billion Tractor Launch, Equipment Remain Idle Amid Bureaucratic Delay
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Over four months after President Bola Tinubu unveiled ₦50 billion worth of farm tractors to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the machines remain unused and parked at the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) headquarters, sparking criticism and frustration among farmers and policy observers.
According to findings obtained by Akahi News from a detailed ₦airaland discussion thread and reports by The Guardian, thousands of tractors and related farm implements are gathering dust due to delays in government directives on distribution.
Massive Investment, Little Progress
During the official launch earlier this year, President Tinubu described the project as a major leap under the Renewed Hope Initiative, aimed at empowering service providers and promoting year-round farming.
The government had unveiled:
- 2,000 tractors,
- 2,000 disc ploughs and harrows,
- 1,000 disc ridgers,
- 1,200 trailers,
- 500 seed drills, and
- 300 boom sprayers, among others.
However, Akahi News gathered that the tractors — reportedly imported from Belarus — are yet to be deployed because the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security awaits a presidential directive on the distribution formula.
A top ministry source told reporters that while expectations were high, “the process has stalled due to pending approval from the Presidency.”
Farmers in Limbo
The Vice President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Daniel Okafor, lamented that farmers had not received any information regarding the promised mechanisation rollout.
“Farmers were very happy when the government launched the equipment. But as of today, we are still waiting for updates on the sharing formula,” Okafor told The Guardian in comments quoted by Akahi News.
Experts warn that the delay could have serious implications for Nigeria’s food production, especially with the ongoing planting season. Professor Simon Tuange of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, stressed that time-bound farming operations might render the tractors useless until the next cycle.
“If these tractors are not deployed soon, they will miss the critical window for land preparation and planting. Agriculture without mechanisation is like a vehicle without wheels,” he said.
Policy Uncertainty and Bureaucratic Stagnation
According to analysts who spoke with Akahi News, the issue reflects a recurring pattern of bureaucratic inertia and poor policy coordination that has plagued Nigeria’s agricultural sector for decades.
While Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari had earlier outlined three distribution models — direct sales, leasing, and community service centres — the lack of follow-through has left both farmers and stakeholders frustrated.
Insiders within the ministry revealed that operations have slowed drastically, as “only the Presidency now dictates the pace.”
Public Reaction and Growing Discontent
On ₦airaland, reactions to the stalled project were overwhelmingly critical. One user wrote, “We have a culture of wastage and corruption. These tractors will eventually be sold off to cronies at discounted prices.”
Another user sarcastically added, “Tinubu bought the tractors just for the cameras — typical of media governance.”
Many commentators accused the administration of using agricultural projects for political optics, while the real beneficiaries — local farmers — remain sidelined.
What Lies Ahead
As Akahi News continues to monitor the development, experts insist that for the ₦50 billion mechanisation project to have any lasting impact, the government must prioritise transparency, timely distribution, and establishment of maintenance workshops to prevent future abandonment.
With rising food prices and declining productivity, the tractors gathering dust at the NASC headquarters have become yet another symbol of Nigeria’s broken agricultural reform system — a costly reminder that good policy intentions are meaningless without effective implementation.
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