Nigeria wants to buy “10,000 tractors” from US – Aliko Dangote

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote confirmed in an interview with NTA that Nigeria was looking to buy “about 10,000 tractors” from the United States.

According to Aliko Dangote, the tractors will help “small holder farmers” with “modern farming”. He also mentioned that Nigeria discussed about multiplying seeds “especially maize and also Soya Beans”.

He also mentioned that Nigeria will by September this year become the “highest, biggest African country in terms of export of fertilizer.”

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“By September latest, Nigeria would be the highest, biggest African country in terms of export of fertilizer. Things have actually changed”. – @AlikoDangote after President @MBuhari’s meeting with a group of Agrobusiness Executives yesterday in Washington. #PMBInDC pic.twitter.com/JwnhSuHczX

— Government of Nigeria (@AsoRock) May 1, 2018

Why this matters

• Aliko Dangote’s Dangote Group is making major inroads in the Agriculture sector and has various interests in large scale merchandised farming and fertilizer manufacturing.
• Brokering a deal that requires the importation of 10,000 tractors is a mega investment for any economy and we won’t be surprised if he has a role to play in the importation of the tractors.
• Tractors cost an average N2m in Nigeria and could cost Nigeria over N20b to import.
• Last year, NISRAL launched a workshop, at its headquarters in Abuja that attracted the likes of Dangote and American tractor maker John Deere and Tata, the Indian conglomerate.
• The government yesterday announced that it had signed a deal with Tata and John Deere (Tata is the distributor) that will deliver over 300 tractors to Nigeria “over the next two years.”
• This is far less than the 10,000 trucks Dangote mentioned.