*Nigerian Vice-President Kashim Shettima, GCON, inaugurates over 375 tractors revitalised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, for use in mechanised farming, as he activates the National Assets Restoration Programme

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

Vice-President Kashim Shettima GCON, has commissioned over 375 tractors for use in mechanised farming revitalised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) under the National Assets Restoration Programme.

Shettima commissioned the programme Sunday June 8, at the Borno State Agricultural Mechanisation Agency, Farm Centre, in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

绿帽献妻 reports the Vice-President said: 鈥淭his initiative, the NASENI Asset Restoration Programme, is a response to our cross-generational dilemma about what to do with abandoned and poorly maintained assets owned by the nation and the people.

“It鈥檚 a powerful shift in how we think about value, sustainability, and innovation, and I believe that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e promised the nation.”

He also stated: 鈥淚t fits squarely within the broader vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu鈥檚 administration: to build a productive, self-reliant, and diversified economy.

“Our goal, therefore, is to ease this transition to expand the potential and productivity of Nigeria鈥檚 agricultural, industrial, and creative sectors through smart investments in infrastructure, skills, and innovation.”

Shettima noted: 鈥淲e must commend NASENI for stepping forward with this brilliant idea to mitigate a national tragedy.

“Beyond this promise to refurbish hardware, NASENI has shown a great capacity to serve as a national nerve centre for technology transfer, home-grown engineering, and adaptive innovation.

This is why we must support them.鈥�

In his special remarks on the occasion, NASENI disclosed Governor (Prof.) Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, who was the Chief Host, said these tractors being commissioned were procured by his predecessor, Sen. Kashim Shettima, when he was the Governor of Borno State.

Governor Zulum stated: 鈥淗e procured 1,000 tractors with their implements.

鈥淗is investment is the single largest not just in Borno state but also in Nigeria.

“The National Assets Restoration programme we are launching could not have been possible without that foundational investment.”

The governor commended NASENI for restoring disused tractors, owned by Borno State Government without collecting money for the effort.

In his keynote address at the event, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NASENI, said the agency had demonstrated that Nigerian problems could have Nigerian-engineered solutions.

Khalil stated: 鈥淲e are building local capacity, developing talent pipelines, and enabling technology transfer at scale.

“We are turning NASENI into a true national enabler-quietly but boldly proving that government can deliver, and that transformation is possible.鈥�

The EVC/CEO also noted: “When we set out to design the Asset Restoration Programme at NASENI, we were not just looking for another project to tick off.

“We were confronting a reality: that all across Nigeria, from farms to security outposts, public assets worth trillions of naira had been written off, locked away, or left to rust鈥攏ot because they were beyond repair, but because there was no clear system to bring them back to life.”

According to him, the country’s national survey revealed that Nigeria holds over 47,000 broken-down but serviceable agricultural and law enforcement assets.

He emphasised that the cost to replace them would exceed N14 trillion.

Khalil noted: 鈥淏ut at NASENI, we asked a simple question: Why replace what we can restore?

鈥淲ith the right engineering, the right people, and the right partnerships, we found that we could recover these assets for just 15 to 25% of their replacement value鈥攁nd still achieve full functionality.

“That is over N10 trillion in national savings, while reviving productivity, jobs, and security on the ground.”

He, therefore, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Vice-President, Kashim Shettima for their endless support, belief in our mission, and their constant encouragement that we must not only think big鈥攂ut act fast.

The NASENI Chief also lauded Governor Zulum of Borno State for his support and leadership, which noted have helped to bring the vision to life in Borno: turning his state into the first node in this national restoration network.

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, in his address also reeled off statistics of broken-down tractors nationwide.

He said the National Assets Restoration Programme is a welcome development, and it would be instrumental in meeting the foods security goal of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Federal Government.

The Minister commended the EVC/CEO of NASENI for the bold vision in rebuilding and repositioning NASENI.

Earlier, Engr. Mohammed Yadudu, Programme Coordinator, Asset Restore, NASENI, said with support from NASENI鈥檚 technical partner, the Machine and Equipment Corporation Africa (MECA) December 2024, began to restore idle government assets that have long fallen into disuse, but held immense value for agricultural economy.

The dignitaries present at the event included the MD/CEO, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Eng. Jennifer Adighije; and the Director General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr. Mohammed Bulama.

Others include Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa; members of Borno State Executive Council; Dr. Muhammed Dahiru, Chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer; and Secretary to the Borno State Government, Malam Bukar Tijani.

Borno State Commissioner of Agriculture, Eng. Bawu Musami; Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan; members of the National Assembly, and other top government officials in the state also attended the event.

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