Minna, Niger State, NIGERIA — First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has officially inaugurated the 2026 planting season in Niger State, marking a move away from subsistence farming to large-scale mechanised agriculture. During the ceremony held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport on Saturday, the First Lady described the initiative as a “visible testament” to Nigeria’s commitment to food self-sufficiency and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The event featured the distribution of a massive cache of agricultural machinery, including 250 tractors (75-horsepower capacity), 50 combine harvesters, and 150,000 bags of fertilisers.
Okay News reports that the intervention, spearheaded by the Niger State Government, aims to cultivate 120,000 hectares of land and create approximately 2,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs across the state’s 25 Local Government Areas.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, popularly known as “Farmer Bago,” emphasized that the removal of fuel subsidies has empowered sub-national governments to invest more aggressively in agriculture. He revealed that 10 tractors will be allocated to each local government to ensure that the mechanization drive reaches the grassroots. The Governor also announced plans to complete a 10,000-hectare solar-powered irrigation system to enable multiple production cycles throughout the year, shielding the state from seasonal scarcity.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi, and APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, noted that the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway—recently approved for $516.3 million in funding—will complement these efforts. The highway is expected to feature over 300 dams along its corridor, providing the critical water infrastructure needed for year-round farming and efficient transportation of produce to national markets.
As the First Lady performed the symbolic handover of the tools, she urged farmers to embrace these modern practices as a patriotic duty.
