Vice President Kashim Shettima will, on Sunday, June 8, 2025, officially flag off the National Asset Restoration Programme in Maiduguri, Borno State, with the launch of the Tractor Recovery Project initiated by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

The landmark event, scheduled to hold at the Borno State Agricultural Mechanization (BOSAMAN) Farm Centre, marks a significant stride towards revitalizing Nigeria’s agricultural sector by restoring broken-down tractors for mechanized farming—an effort tied to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Funded, supervised, and executed by NASENI in partnership with its technical collaborator, Machine and Equipment Corporation Africa Limited (MECA), the project aims to restore thousands of inactive tractors across the country, beginning with the North-East zone.

Vice President Shettima, who will serve as the Eminent Guest of Honour, will be joined at the launch by Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, and NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, alongside other dignitaries.

According to available data, Nigeria currently has an estimated 55,000 broken-down tractors, with only about 7,000 to 10,000 operational nationwide. The Tractor Recovery Project is designed to bridge this gap by fully rehabilitating idle machinery and making them ready for deployment in farming communities.

Each tractor under the programme has undergone extensive repairs—covering mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and structural components—to ensure optimal performance in the field.

This intervention represents a major step toward rebuilding livelihoods, enhancing food security, and strengthening rural economies through indigenous engineering solutions.

The Federal Government has expressed optimism that the initiative will boost agricultural productivity, reduce dependence on food imports, and empower farmers across the region and beyond.