When you hear that 375 abandoned tractors in Borno State have been restored, it might not immediately sound like headline news. But for farmers in northeast Nigeria—especially those still rebuilding their livelihoods after years of insurgency—this isn’t just about machinery. It’s about a second chance.
In April 2024, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) flagged off the revival of 375 previously grounded tractors across Borno under a bold new initiative: the National Tractor Recovery and Refurbishment Programme. These tractors had been left to rust across different local government areas, unusable due to poor maintenance, vandalism, or simple neglect. Now, they’re roaring back to life—and transforming the region’s agricultural engine in the process.
This article breaks down what NASENI did, why it matters, and how this move fits into the broader push to rebuild Nigeria’s food systems from the ground up.
Background: How Did the Tractors Get Abandoned?
Let’s start with the obvious question: how do hundreds of tractors end up idle?
Over the years, the Nigerian government and international donors delivered agricultural machinery to boost food security, especially in insurgency-affected states like Borno. However, these efforts were often undermined by a lack of a sustainable maintenance plan, vandalism during years of conflict and displacement, missing spare parts and technical capacity for repairs, and no ownership structure—machines were “owned by no one,” so no one took responsibility.
A survey by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in 2022 estimated that over 55,000 tractors in Nigeria had been grounded across states, with less than 15 percent in active use. Many were dumped behind secretariats or locked in faulty co‑operative schemes.
In Borno’s case, most of the tractors were abandoned post‑2015, during the height of the Boko Haram crisis. Local farmers fled, maintenance chains broke down, and the machines fell into disrepair. By 2023, less than 30 percent of Borno’s government‑owned tractors were usable.
The result? Mechanization—the key to modern farming—was virtually absent in many LGAs like Monguno, Gwoza, and Bama. Smallholder farmers had to rely on hand tools or expensive private rentals, often traveling tens of kilometers to access services.
That’s the broken system NASENI stepped into.
The NASENI Intervention: From Wreckage to Revival
NASENI’s intervention wasn’t just an emergency repair job—it was a coordinated operation under the newly launched National Tractor Recovery and Refurbishment Programme, part of a broader National Asset Restoration Programme initiated in collaboration with the Vice President’s office.
Here’s how it worked in Borno:
Asset Audit
NASENI engineers, in partnership with local governments, physically identified 375 abandoned tractors scattered across farms, council depots, and co‑op centres in Borno.
Diagnostics and Triage
Each tractor was evaluated—some had broken hydraulic systems, others needed new engines, fuel systems, or tires. Surprisingly, over 60 percent were found repairable at less than 25 percent of their market value.
Refurbishment Process
Restored both petrol and diesel tractors, including Belarus, Massey Ferguson, and John Deere brands. Converted many to CNG‑powered engines as part of Nigeria’s green energy transition, reducing diesel dependency. Sourced parts locally via NASENI’s technology partners and machine tool subsidiaries.
Deployment and Tracking
After restoration, the tractors were redistributed across 17 LGAs in Borno, fitted with GPS tracking and asset tags to monitor usage and prevent theft.
Technician Training
Over 120 local mechanics were trained on repairs and preventive maintenance, creating a support system for continued functionality.
This wasn’t a giveaway. Tractors were handed to vetted farmer co‑operatives and community groups under a managed leasing arrangement to promote accountability.
Reviving 375 grounded tractors across a region as vast—and previously insecure—as Borno wasn’t just about turning wrenches. It took a carefully coordinated multi‑agency effort backed by both engineering muscle and political will.
NASENI Revives 375 Abandoned Tractors in Borno Farm Push
When you hear that 375 abandoned tractors in Borno State have been restored, it might not immediately sound like headline news. But for farmers in northeast Nigeria—especially those still rebuilding their livelihoods after years of insurgency—this isn’t just about machinery. It’s about a second chance.
In April 2024, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) flagged off the revival of 375 previously grounded tractors across Borno under a bold new initiative: the National Tractor Recovery and Refurbishment Programme. These tractors had been left to rust across different local government areas, unusable due to poor maintenance, vandalism, or simple neglect. Now, they’re roaring back to life—and transforming the region’s agricultural engine in the process.
This article breaks down what NASENI did, why it matters, and how this move fits into the broader push to rebuild Nigeria’s food systems from the ground up.
Background: How Did the Tractors Get Abandoned?
Let’s start with the obvious question: how do hundreds of tractors end up idle?
Over the years, the Nigerian government and international donors delivered agricultural machinery to boost food security, especially in insurgency-affected states like Borno. However, these efforts were often undermined by a lack of a sustainable maintenance plan, vandalism during years of conflict and displacement, missing spare parts and technical capacity for repairs, and no ownership structure—machines were “owned by no one,” so no one took responsibility.
A survey by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in 2022 estimated that over 55,000 tractors in Nigeria had been grounded across states, with less than 15 percent in active use. Many were dumped behind secretariats or locked in faulty co‑operative schemes.
In Borno’s case, most of the tractors were abandoned post‑2015, during the height of the Boko Haram crisis. Local farmers fled, maintenance chains broke down, and the machines fell into disrepair. By 2023, less than 30 percent of Borno’s government‑owned tractors were usable.
The result? Mechanization—the key to modern farming—was virtually absent in many LGAs like Monguno, Gwoza, and Bama. Smallholder farmers had to rely on hand tools or expensive private rentals, often traveling tens of kilometers to access services.
That’s the broken system NASENI stepped into.
The NASENI Intervention: From Wreckage to Revival
NASENI’s intervention wasn’t just an emergency repair job—it was a coordinated operation under the newly launched National Tractor Recovery and Refurbishment Programme, part of a broader National Asset Restoration Programme initiated in collaboration with the Vice President’s office.
Here’s how it worked in Borno:
Asset Audit
NASENI engineers, in partnership with local governments, physically identified 375 abandoned tractors scattered across farms, council depots, and co‑op centres in Borno.
Diagnostics and Triage
Each tractor was evaluated—some had broken hydraulic systems, others needed new engines, fuel systems, or tires. Surprisingly, over 60 percent were found repairable at less than 25 percent of their market value.
Refurbishment Process
Restored both petrol and diesel tractors, including Belarus, Massey Ferguson, and John Deere brands. Converted many to CNG‑powered engines as part of Nigeria’s green energy transition, reducing diesel dependency. Sourced parts locally via NASENI’s technology partners and machine tool subsidiaries.
Deployment and Tracking
After restoration, the tractors were redistributed across 17 LGAs in Borno, fitted with GPS tracking and asset tags to monitor usage and prevent theft.
Technician Training
Over 120 local mechanics were trained on repairs and preventive maintenance, creating a support system for continued functionality.
This wasn’t a giveaway. Tractors were handed to vetted farmer co‑operatives and community groups under a managed leasing arrangement to promote accountability.
Reviving 375 grounded tractors across a region as vast—and previously insecure—as Borno wasn’t just about turning wrenches. It took a carefully coordinated multi‑agency effort backed by both engineering muscle and political will.
