June 08, (THEWILL) – Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Sunday, commissioned 375 fully refurbished tractors belonging to the Borno State Government at the headquarters of the Borno State Agricultural Mechanisation Authority (BOSAMA) in Maiduguri.
The tractors, originally procured by the state, were restored by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) under its National Assets Recovery, Refurbishment and Redeployment Project, also known as the Asset Restore Project.
In his remarks, Shettima praised Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, for his visionary leadership, describing the gesture as a critical step toward agricultural transformation in the state.
“My greatest commendation goes to the Governor of Borno State for his unwavering commitment to leading with purpose and foresight,” he said.
The Vice President also lauded NASENI’s efforts in enhancing agricultural productivity through its infrastructure support programmes, which he said are helping to localise global technologies for Nigerian solutions.
“We have seen NASENI at work, playing pivotal roles in interventions such as CNG retrofitting, renewable energy technologies, and agricultural mechanisation. The localisation of global technologies is the only path to building a self-reliant and prosperous nation,” Shettima added.
Governor Zulum, in his address, recalled that the tractors were originally procured by Shettima during his time as Governor of Borno State between 2011 and 2019.
“Let me remind this gathering that these tractors were initially procured by my predecessor, Senator Kashim Shettima. He acquired 1,000 tractors along with their implements,” Zulum said.
He continued, “He didn’t stop there. He also procured 250 units each of groundnut diggers, fertiliser broadcasters, rotovators, bailers, and 25 units of combined harvesters. While it would have been politically expedient to focus on short-term interventions, he instead invested in the long-term future of our people.”
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, and the Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, commended Governor Zulum for providing purposeful leadership in advancing food security and agricultural mechanisation.
In a related development, Vice President Shettima also commissioned 351 units of farm implements recently procured by the Zulum administration to further boost mechanised farming in the state.
According to the Borno State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engr. Bawu Musami, the implements include 121 disc ploughs, 180 disc harrows, as well as grain threshers, rotary slashers, and 6-cubic-meter diesel tankers.
