The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has opened discussions with Nasarawa State Government and Bobtrack Tractors, a division of Saint Bob Motors Limited, on the manufacturing and assembling of tractors in the North-Central geopolitical zone.
A statement issued on Monday by the agency’s Director, Information, Segun Ayeoyenikan, on the multibillion Naira project indicated that the facilities and infrastructure available at one of NASENI’s Institutes, Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI), Lafia, Nasarawa state would be used for assembling and manufacturing of the tractors.
The Director quoted the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, as saying that the project which is aimed at creating wealth and jobs for Nigerian youths aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda of ensuring food security and promotion of mechanized farming and agro-business in the country.
Halilu made this remark when the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdulahi Sule, led a delegation comprising Bob Track Tractors owners on a visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The NASENI boss, who assured the governor and the firm’s delegation of NASENI’s readiness to collaborate with them on the project, said “the agency is willing to partner with you and sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) so that in the next couple of weeks we will move into action.”
He disclosed that the President had recognized NASENI as a national brand and that its National Tractor Recovery Programme wherein 55,000 tractors would be refurbished for mechanized farming nationwide.
In his remarks, the Governor aligned his government’s plans with NASENI’s vision of collaborating and promoting made-in-Nigeria goods and also maintained that government’s role was to provide a level playing field necessary for businesses to thrive.
Sule said the visit was made to introduce the Bob Track Tractors, which deals in assembling and manufacturing of tractor and farm implements with offices in Port Harcourt, to NASENI so that it could utilize the existing facilities at AMEDI, Lafia for assembling of tractors instead of acquiring a new land for the business.
Commenting during the meeting with the NASENI boss, the CEO of Bob Track Tractors, Mr. Ibifiri Bob Manuel, assured: “We are ready to take up the facility that you have in Nasarawa State, create employment and wealth for the youths in the area and also use it as a hub to drive mechanized agricultural vision of the present administration. We are willing to invest in Nasarawa state with help of His Excellency, his team and NASENI.”
Photo Caption
L-R: The Chief Executive Officer, Bob Track Tractors Ltd, Mr. Ibifiri Bob Manuel; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, and Mr. Jerry of Bob Track Tractors Ltd, during a courtesy visit to NASENI’s headquarters on Monday in Abuja
