From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
An American firm, John Deere, has resolved to set up a tractor assembly plant in Nigeria.
According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, the company’s interest to invest in Nigeria’s agricultural sector was made known during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and top officials of John Deere, led by its Vice President on Production Systems, Jason Brantley, in the United States.
The meeting facilitated by the Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria, John Coumantaros, also had in attendance the Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari; the Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Lot Egopija, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity, Kingsley Uzoma.
Speaking during interaction with the investors, Shettima said Nigeria is committed to transforming agriculture as a pathway to tackling insecurity and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
“Without mechanisation, you can never be truly self-sufficient in food production. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to revitalising the Nigerian agricultural sector. And for us to be self-sufficient in food production, three key elements are essential. First is certified seeds, then mechanisation, provision of fertiliser and, of course, agricultural extension services,” he said.
The vice president, who spoke on the special agro-industrial processing zones (SAPZs) project, said: “It is designed to provide the infrastructure, platform and framework for the private sector to add value to Nigeria’s agricultural produce for the domestic, regional market and for the global community.”
He assures the investors that Nigeria is now open for partnership, saying: “We are open for discussions, for conversations towards fast-tracking the whole process. My principal, President Tinubu is very eager to see that the full potential of the Nigerian agricultural sector is realised.