The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the non-delivery of the Federal Government’s 2,000 tractors, 100 combined harvesters and other agricultural implements under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
In November 2023, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security signed a 5-year agreement with a John Deere, a tractor manufacturing firm, to supply 2000 tractors, implements and 100 combined harvesters annually, totalling $70,041,733.80 and N2,981,739,134.30.
The move by the federal government is expected to stimulate agric mechanisation in the country and increase food production and reduce food inflation.
The agreement was also aimed at reducing foreign currency expenditure on the purchase of ready-made equipment due to the growth of local production amongst others.
Unfortunately, one year later, no single tractor has been delivered.
Earlier in the year during a meeting between the company officials and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, to review the progress made so far, it was discovered that very little action has been taken almost six months into the year.
The latest move by the lawmakers is a consequence of the failure of the company to deliver the first consignment even as the year is coming to an end.
Honorable Saba Adam who moved the motion on the floor of the house on Tuesday, said the non-delivery of these tractors and implements is a setback to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, “This is a major setback to our policy on agricultural mechanisation, it poses a challenge to Nigeria’s food sufficiency ambition, as two farming seasons have been lost since the signing of the agreements.”
The speaker adopted the prayers and mandated the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to investigate the non-delivery of the machines as stated in the agreement and report back within four weeks.