Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on Sunday in Borno state, unveiled 375 tractors for mechanised farming, revitalised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
This was contained in a statement issued by Mr Segun Ayeoyenikan, NASENI’s Director of Information, on Sunday in Abuja.
Ayeoyenikan stated that the project falls under the Federal Government’s National Assets Restoration Programme.
“This initiative responds to our long-standing challenge what to do with abandoned, poorly maintained assets owned by both the nation and its people.
“It represents a powerful shift in how we approach value, sustainability, and innovation. This is the promise we have made to Nigeria,” Shettima said.
He noted that the programme aims to support agriculture, industry, and the creative sectors through investment in infrastructure, skills, and innovation.
The Vice-President praised NASENI for initiating the project, saying it prevented a national tragedy and demonstrated the agency’s ability to serve as a centre for technology transfer.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno noted that the tractors were procured by his predecessor, Kashim Shettima, during his tenure as state governor.
According to Zulum, Shettima procured 1,000 tractors, describing it as the largest such investment in Borno and Nigeria at the time.
He said NASENI restored the state’s damaged tractors without charging the government any fees.
Also Read: Zulum Donates ₦5m, Grants Scholarships to Families of Fallen CJTF MembersÂ
NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Halilu, said the agency’s work proves that Nigerian challenges can be met with Nigerian-engineered solutions.
“We are developing talent, building capacity, and enabling large-scale technology transfer across Nigeria,” Halilu said.
He added: “We are transforming NASENI into a true national enabler quietly but boldly proving government can work and transformation is achievable.”
Halilu noted that NASENI did not intend to launch just another project, but to solve a pressing national problem.
He explained that public assets worth trillions had been left idle not due to damage, but due to a lack of systems for restoration.
According to him, a national survey found over 47,000 serviceable but broken-down agricultural and law enforcement assets across the country.
He said replacing these assets would cost more than ₦14 trillion, but restoration could reduce costs significantly.
“With the right people and partnerships, we can restore these assets for just 15 to 25 per cent of their value.
“This equates to savings of over ₦10 trillion while reviving jobs, productivity, and security,” he said.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, gave figures on broken-down tractors nationwide. He welcomed the restoration programme, saying it would be key to achieving food security under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
