Veteran labour leader and agricultural advocate, Mustapha Nuhu Wali, has called on northern states governments to set up Green Imperative Implementation Desks in their ministries of agriculture to strengthen the region’s participation in the national mechanisation programme.
Wali said the measure would ensure proper coordination, monitoring, and sustainability of the Green Imperative Programme, which he described as crucial to agricultural transformation and food security in the North.
He noted that the Green Imperative, launched in 2019 through a Nigeria–Brazil partnership, was designed to supply thousands of tractors and farm implements, establish service centres across all local governments, and modernise farming practices. However, progress has been limited due to weak regional involvement and inadequate support from state governments and private investors.
“The Green Imperative cannot succeed through federal efforts alone,” Wali said. “State governments, traditional institutions, cooperatives, and the private sector must take ownership and contribute actively to its implementation.”
He commended the renewed commitment of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu to revive and commercialise the programme by 2025, citing fresh agreements with Brazil and other partners as a positive step.
According to Wali, northern states must now take concrete steps to ensure the region benefits fully from the programme’s revival.
He urged them to include mechanisation goals in their annual budgets, provide counterpart funding, and make land available for training and service centres.
He also encouraged polytechnics and universities to strengthen agricultural engineering and mechanisation courses to produce skilled workers who can operate and maintain modern equipment.
In addition, he advised cooperatives and private investors to partner with government agencies to run efficient tractor-hire and maintenance services.
Wali emphasised that engaging young people and women through technical training would create jobs and help bridge the manpower gap in the agricultural sector.
He warned that with only a few years left in the original ten-year agreement, time must not be wasted.
He called for greater transparency, local assembly of equipment, and on-ground technical support from Brazilian experts to ensure the project delivers tangible results.
“The Green Imperative represents a real opportunity for Northern Nigeria to boost food production, create jobs, and secure its agricultural future,” Wali said. “This can only happen if local leaders take responsibility and drive the process from within.”
