FEC Approves Acquisition Of 1200 Trailers And 2000 Tractors For Food Security

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has announced the approval of 2,000 tractors, 4,000 disc ploughs, and 1,200 tractor trailers among other equipment under the National Agricultural Mechanization Programme (NAMP) in an effort to promote food security in Nigeria.

The equipment will be supplied by the DMCC firm, which also plans to set up assembling plans of some of this equipment in the country, according to a statement made on Wednesday by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on X. The statement also outlined the outcomes of the FEC meeting in Abuja.

Acquisition of 2000 tractors, 4000 disc ploughs, 1000 disc ridges, 1200 tractor trailers, and various spare parts, he stated. The National Agricultural Mechanization Programme (NAMP) will use the supplies to improve national food security.

“In the second part of the contract, Astride DMCC, which has completed comparable work in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, and Togo, will supply all the equipment and will also set up a plant to assemble the machinery.”

Additionally, the federal government announced that it will work with stakeholders to establish a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) for commodities, increase output in the 2024–2025 growing season, particularly for smallholder farmers, and support the development of fortified food commodities, among other things.

This development coincides with Nigeria’s ongoing battle with a crisis of food security, with food inflation standing at 40.5% and households there finding it difficult to support their families.

In addition, the cost of basic consumables, particularly grains, has increased by more than 100% during the previous 12 months.

The federal government has announced intentions to buy food supplies valued at ₦155 billion to be distributed nationwide and to share ₦50,000 to 100,000 households among the 36 states of the nation for three months.