The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to investigate the non-delivery of 2,000 tractors and 100 combined harvesters under the Presidential Food Security Initiative and Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Drive, despite the signing of agreement.
The committee will also examine a separate N138.61 billion deal between the Federal Government and AFTRADE DMCC for the establishment of a tractor assembly plant in Nigeria.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Saba Adam, the representative for Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency in Kwara State, during Tuesday’s plenary.
Adam drew the attention of lawmakers to what he described as a delay in fulfilling agreements crucial to the nation’s agricultural mechanisation drive.
Shortly after assuming office, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security, emphasizing agricultural mechanisation as a vital strategy for enhancing food production across the country. This decision was in response to rising food inflation, which has increased hunger nationwide.
Adam explained that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had entered into an agreement with John Deere Tractors for the annual supply of 2,000 tractors, implements, and 100 combined harvesters.
This contract, valued at $70.042 million, included provisions for sales, after-sales services, spare parts supply, and training for mechanised service providers, all aimed at supporting the Renewed Hope agenda for increased food production.
In addition, the ministry signed a five-year agreement with AFTRADE DMCC to establish a tractor assembly plant in Nigeria. This facility was expected to produce 9,022 agricultural implements and 2,000 Belarus tractors annually, at a combined cost of $684.19 million and N138.61 billion for equipment, delivery, and assembly.
Adam emphasized the potential benefits of these initiatives, including increased agricultural productivity, the transfer of technological expertise, and reduced foreign exchange expenditure on imported equipment.
He, however, expressed dismay that a year after these agreements were signed by the National Agricultural Development Fund and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, not a single tractor or implement has been delivered to Nigeria.
According to Adam, this delay undermines the Renewed Hope agenda for agricultural mechanisation and jeopardizes the country’s food security aspirations, as two farming seasons have been wasted since the agreements were finalized.
He described the situation as a setback in addressing Nigeria’s food security crises.
Lawmakers backed the motion, leading Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to direct an investigation into the delays. The committee has been charged with uncovering the reasons behind the non-delivery of 2,000 tractors, 100 combined harvesters, and other agricultural equipment.
The lawmakers further tasked the committee with probing the progress of the proposed tractor assembly plant and evaluating the procurement and distribution of farm implements managed by the Federal Department of Agriculture within the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The committee was given four weeks to conclude its investigation and present findings to the House for further legislative action.