By Taiwo Adediran
The Global Hunger Index in its 2025 report ranks Nigeria 115th out of 123 countries with a score of 32.8 – an indication of a “serious” level of hunger. The International Monetary Fund, IMF, in the same vein said about 35 million Nigerians are facing food insecurity. One of the factors driving the shortage in food is the systemic disintegration of our local food systems, which at a time pushed food inflation to an all time high of 40.87 percent in June of 2024.
Despite being one of the world’s leading agrarian nations with a population of over 40m households engaging in agriculture, Nigeria continues to lag behind in agricultural mechanization, which remains the surest path to reforming the sector for commercial value. One of the key modern tools in farming is the tractor, but unfortunately, the number of functional tractors in Nigeria is a far cry from what is required. According to a popular company advocating tractor use in Africa, TracTrac, Nigeria has less than 10 tractors per 1,000 hectares as against the FAO recommendation of 1.5 tractors per hectare. Osun State – one of Nigeria’s agricultural hubs – is not exempted from the adverse effects of poor agricultural mechanization. With over 70% being humble smallholder farmers, use of modern tools in farming becomes unattainable.
As part of efforts to change the narrative, the Ademola Adeleke-led government implemented a mechanization policy, one of which was the N8bn capital project to procure 114 tractors for agricultural purposes. The tractors were intended to bring succor to farmers in local government areas across the state. However, the procurement has led to controversies with only 31 tractors delivered since 2024. While the procurement process remains shrouded in secrecy, there has also been a debate regarding the impact of the tractors in farming and whether hope is still alive to see the remaining.
The N8bn Deal and the Inconsistencies
Governor Ademola Adeleke had announced that, “the state is committing N8 Billion for the acquisition of tractors and farm clearing equipment within the context of due process and another N2 billion worth of farm input support.”
According to the Osun state government, each of the tractors, coupled with diffraction ploughs cost N70m each. The total estimate for the project thus amounts to N8bn. At N70m per tractor, the total cost for 31 procured tractors is N2.17bn. The figure shows a shortfall of N5.83bn budgeted for the project.
The state government had explained that 72 of the 114 tractors were already procured but eventually unveiled only 31 tractors on August 30, 2024. It explained that the remaining tractors were to arrive subsequently in phases without explanation as to why there was a contradiction to earlier claims. Two years after, the state is yet to take delivery of any additional tractor. The development had generated controversy and raised questions about transparency and accountability.
When questioned, the government clarified that the delivery was to be in phases and that more was expected in months to come. Till date, no additional tractor has arrived. When this reporter interrogated the Spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, regarding the project, he denied reports that the government made the claim that 114 tractors had been procured. According to him, the government only planned procurement of 114 tractors but paid and got delivery of 31. He added that plans are still on to procure more.
However, a press release by the state government on July 25, 2024, and published on the state official website states otherwise. The release with the headline, “Governor Adeleke Scale Up Efforts on Food Security, Procures New Tractors to Boost Food Production in Osun,” said “the government received the first batch of 72 newly coupled tractors out of 114 tractors paid for by the Governor Ademola Adeleke led administration in a bid to boost food production and support farmers in the state.”
The press release signed by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Osun State Governor, further stated that “about 24 trucks of 3 tractors each have since arrived the state in the first batch of the procurement, while others are still being expected.” With the revelation that “24 truck of 3 tractors each have since arrived the state in the first batch of the procurement,” this amounts to 72 tractors. The claim was made on July 25, 2024. The tractors were unveiled on August 30, 2024. Again on October 16, 2024, in his message to commemorate the World Food Day, Governor Adeleke admitted that his government “procured thirty-one (31) brand new Tractors which was the first phase delivery. He added that “others should be expected soon.”
A further check revealed that allocation to Agriculture in the 2024 budget was only N3.7 billion as passed by the state House of Assembly in December 2023. The 2024 budget also puts the number of tractors to be procured at 10. There was no amendment of the Appropriation Act to raise the number of the tractors or increase the budgetary allocation to the Agricultural sector.
An opposition figure who described himself as a Social commentator, Mr Akin Adeyi, said he is one of those who have requested proof of payment from the government to no avail. He noted that the funding of the tractors remains in secrecy. “I personally listened to two of the top government officials claim that they already took delivery of 72 tractors. The first was Hon. Ibukun Fadipe. His claim was corroborated by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kolapo Alimi. But till now, there’s been nothing to show,” he said. “There is a need for the state government to make clarification on this. Where did the funding come from? Was there even a cabinet meeting where the approval was granted?”
Seeking clarification
This reporter visited the Procurement Office of the Osun State Government to seek clarification on the procurement process and documents to back it up, but was referred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. At the ministry, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Agboola Olawale, who responded on behalf of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Babatola Faseru – following the latter’s resignation weeks earlier – said the ministry was not in the position to speak on the matter and also referred the reporter to the Osun State Agricultural Development Corporation, OSSADEC, office in Osogbo. He added that statistical data of the success story of the tractors are detailed in a compendium which could be accessed at the Ministry of Human Resources.
At the OSSADEC office, the General Manager, Mr Adebayo Oyewole, denied any knowledge of the procurement. He stated that the corporation only oversees the operations of the tractors and has nothing to do with procurement. He explained that the 31 tractors handed over to the corporation were distributed to the nine Federal Constituencies in the state, while the remaining four were stationed at the OSSADEC office in Osogbo, as back up.
Speaking on the modalities for hiring, Oyewole explained that the service for the tractors were initially pegged at a flat rate of N20,000 per acre, but recently raised to N25,000 because of the prevailing cost of fuel in the market. He explained that farmers only need to visit the locations – which he said had been made available online – and book with the operators.
To ensure accountability, the OSSADEC General Manager explained that all the tractors are tracked to monitor their movement and location as well as prevent fuel from being siphoned. He noted that the measure has ensured transparency and accountability.
Cutting Corners
In order to verify claims and adherence to the hiring process, this reporter went online to download the list containing the tractor hiring centers and parking locations. Listed as one of the locations for Ijesa North Constituency, is AISU office at the Amotekun office, Ere road in Ijebu-jesa. However, when this reporter visited the location, Amotekun officials stated that the office had never been in custody of the government tractors. One of them nicknamed Egbeji, assisted with the contact of an agent and directed the reporter to another place about 3 kilometres away. The said location opposite Urban Day Grammar School, Ijebu-jesa, is a hotel. The attendant on duty told the reporter the official in charge was not around, but made his contact available. It was a different contact from the former, but when this reporter reached out, it was the same agent. He stated that the price per acre was N25,000.
Insert image: Ilesa Amotekun/Ogedengbe
At the Oba’s palace in Esa-Odo, the tractor was seen parked at the front of the palace, covered with shrubs, an indication that it had not been moved from its position in weeks. The old man – seated in the palace – told the reporter to check back on a Monday. Even though, the tractor was at the official location, neither the traditional ruler nor those around the palace knew the whereabouts or the mobile contact of the agent in charge. After much effort asking around, a young man offered his contact. Identified simply as Gboyega, the agent stated that the charge is N25, 000 per acre, but added that the farmer is required to pay for transport to and from the farm separately. This implies extra cost on farmers, contrary to the official guideline.
The Hiring centre for Atakumosa West, Atakumosa East, Ilesa West and Ilesa East was listed as Ilaje, beside Ogedengbe School of Science, Ilesa. During a visit to the location, no one was aware of any hiring center. Government officials redirected the reporter to the local government council. The tractor was, however, found parked at the Amotekun office, Ayeso, Ilesa. The agent, after efforts to get his contact said it costs N25,000 per acre, but added that there’s a separate charge for transporting the tractor to and fro. He added that a farmland that had not been ploughed before attracts extra costs per acre.
A farmer based in Modakeke, Alhaja Sidikat Muibi, decried the disparate charges for hiring the tractors. She claimed that she was billed N27,000 per acre when she hired the tractor and paid separately for transportation to the farm. She wondered why the cost was higher than what was initially announced. This, she said discouraged her from seeking the service subsequently.
To verify her claim, this reporter located the AISU office, at Oke Dio and met with an official on duty who identified herself simply as Iya Ayo. During enquiry, she claimed that the official cost is N27,000 per acre. Just like many others, she stated that the tractor can only go if the site to be ploughed is up to five or more acres. The reporter told her he likes to deposit for an acre, and will be back to pay for four other acres. She agreed and made an account available to which the reporter deposited N27,000, N2000 more per acre than the official rate.
Screenshot of the transaction receipt at the AISU office, Oke-dio in Modakeke
In Ede, Osun West Senatorial district, the AISU office was listed as the Hiring Centre while the Amotekun office, Ede is the proposed parking site. At the Amotekun office, the reporter was directed to the AISU office. Again at the AISU office, the tractor was nowhere in sight. The official on duty said it’s been moved to the palace since 2025, and has no idea, how much it costs to hire.
The Farmers’ Plight
While more of these tractors are still being awaited for deployment by the state government in fulfillment of its promise, farmers acknowledged that the tractors are helping to fill the void of past years by serving to plow, harrow and plant. They however lamented that the few ones available only serve the communities close to the parking base, as those whose farmlands are farther away are required to pay additional cost.
Mr Jacob Alabi, a farmer whose farmland is along Imesi-Ile said he’d always had to commit additional cost to use the tractor. “It is actually a good initiative. At least, we have some now, unlike in those days when there’s hardly one around. The only problem for me is that after calculating to pay for about 6 acres of farmland, I’m again expected to pay for fuel to move the tractor to the farm and back. That’s already a lot.”
Mr Gbola Oyedokun, a farmer at Otan-Ile said most of the small scale farmers hardly hire the tractors because the operators won’t leave their base to plough just two or three acres of farmlands. He explained that the farmers are only able to hire if other counterparts along the same route are also seeking the service at the same time.
“What we do is to identify some of our other colleagues who also require the service of the tractor operator and do the booking together. But in instances where you don’t get others at the time, the most probable way out is to find other means,” he said.
At Ifewara, a farmer, Jacob Adeboye, who spoke with the reporter said he has no idea of the public tractor. Corroborating his claim, a group of young farmers at Owu-Epe, said they still use manual labour to till the land because they do not have any tractor stationed anywhere close to the farming community.
“We don’t know whether the tractors are available in Ifewara. Perhaps, if you can reach out to the LG Chairman there, he’ll be able to say. But for us, we haven’t seen anyone around here before. So, we still depend on manual labour,” he said.
In Ede, a middle aged farmer, who identified himself as Gbenga Ariyo, said he had asked around since he learnt about the tractors but has not been able to get the location around Egbedore. “Yes, I know about it. In fact, one of our people has hired the tractors before, he said so. Just that, I haven’t been able to locate their base. Some people said Amotekun office, I’ve gone there, but they were not there. I’ve also been to the AISU office, they were not there. They mentioned one other place. When I got there and didn’t see them, I gave up. Maybe, I’ll try the palace one day as you said,” he said.
Osun and the Future of Agriculture
With 80 million hectares of arable land, Nigeria has the potential to become a global agricultural hub, capable of thriving in food crops, cash crops and livestock. Unfortunately, over 70% of her farming population remains smallholder farmers with limited funds and modern tools to work with. In Nigeria, mechanization currently hovers around 0.27 horsepower per hectare, far below the minimum global standard of 1.5 horsepower per hectare as recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Currently, Nigeria has less than 50,000 tractors in use nationwide. In other words, farmers have access to fewer than 10 tractors per 1,000 hectares of arable land, forcing millions of farmers to rely heavily on manual and human labor. This continues to make farming unattractive to the younger generation and slow down the sector’s advancement.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) posits that it is not just enough to have an agricultural mechanization policy in place, there’s need to ensure that the policy is effectively targeted towards a particular farming activity and types of farmers. In Osun, the potential to raise the bar in agriculture, become a food basket and create jobs along key value chain is strong. However, investments such as the tractorisation project require transparency, accountability and proper monitoring for optimal impact.
This investigation was supported by the Budeshi Media/Mini Grant, an initiative of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC).
