The federal government has approved a N25 billion intervention fund for the newly inaugurated Katsina Agricultural Mechanised Centre. 

This was disclosed in a statement on May 2, 2025, by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), quoting Katsina Governor Dikko Umar Radda.

The intervention facilitated the acquisition of 400 tractors by the Katsina Agricultural Mechanised Centre, aiming to drive an agricultural revolution in the northern state. This development coincided with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s two-day visit to Katsina State, during which significant projects were commissioned.

On Friday, President Tinubu called on governors across Nigeria to remain focused on delivering tangible results that improve the lives of their people. During his two-day visit to Katsina, the President told the governors that the accurate measure of leadership is a positive, visible impact. The President commissioned a 24 km road, which Governor Dikko Umar Radda completed within 18 months.

The President also commissioned the Katsina Agricultural Mechanised Centre. According to the statement, the road commissioned was the Eastern Bypass, which stretched from Dutsin-ma Road through Kano and Daura Roads, terminating at Yandaki in the Kaita Local Government Area. 

Speaking at the event, Tinubu noted that hunger and poverty remain the biggest threats to peace in the country. 

“The economy is sailing in the right direction. Today, we are seeing an effort to banish hunger and a commitment to food security and the empowerment of our people. Small and large-scale farming will be encouraged. Once we liberate ourselves from hunger, we will appreciate peace and harmony.” 

“The remarkable progress in the state will continue to be rewarded. I want to assure the Nigerian public that agriculture is the heart of our progress and must be for all. We have dedicated ourselves to food security. We must invest in mechanisation and water management. The old style of agriculture is gone,” he stated. 

The President assured that the Bank of Agriculture would be resuscitated and properly repositioned to meet farmers’ needs and improve farming and agricultural production.

“The Bank of Agriculture is being revitalised. When resuscitated, the bank will make funds available for large, medium, and small-scale farming,” he said. 

Tinubu further challenged the governors to pay more attention to agriculture, rather than relying on federal allocations from oil.

“You have introduced a great, progressive movement in Katsina State by tilling the land and putting it to use. Farming will be our source of prosperity and growth.” 

“We should remove ourselves from reliance on oil and commit to agriculture. It will bring prosperity. I commend you for the mechanisation program. It is a great investment, and I hope others can learn from it. The construction of the 24-km road speaks volumes about the effectiveness of the government. I say thank you,” President Tinubu stressed. 

The President appreciated past state governors for their purposeful leadership and thanked the traditional council and the Katsina and Daura Emirates for supporting the country’s unity, peace, and progress.

“The Katsina Agricultural Mechanised Centre will serve the 34 local councils in the state,” Governor Radda stated, adding that 400 tractors had been acquired with the help of N25 billion from the federal government.

He pointed out that during this time, the state had built 160 km of new roads and renovated some others, and that the availability of power, water, and medical facilities had improved people’s lives.

Governor Radda also disclosed that the state has received 4,000 pumping devices from the Ministry of Agriculture to improve irrigated farming.

Source: Nairametrics 

Image Credit: Leadership