In a bid to strengthen food security, Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the release of 2,000 tractors and other essential farming equipment under the National Agricultural Mechanization Programme (NAMP).
This announcement was made by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, summarizing the key decisions from the FEC meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.
The approval includes the procurement of 2,000 tractors, 4,000 disc ploughs, 1,000 disc ridgers, 1,200 tractor trailers, and various spare parts.
These items are intended to support NAMP and enhance Nigeria’s agricultural productivity, ultimately ensuring national food security.
Astride DMCC, a company with previous projects in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, and Togo, will supply the equipment.
In the second phase of the contract, the company will also establish a local assembly plant.
This initiative follows the government’s earlier decision to suspend taxes and import duties on essential food items such as rice, wheat, and beans for 150 days to address rising food inflation, which reached 40.66 percent in May.
Additionally, President Tinubu recently announced the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development to resolve long-standing conflicts between farmers and herders that contribute to food insecurity.
These efforts come as Nigerians face escalating food prices and reduced purchasing power.
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization has predicted that by 2030, up to 82 million people in Nigeria could suffer severe hunger due to persistent food insecurity.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government, through Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Sen. Abubakar Kyari, declared that the food crisis is expected to abate within 180 days.