Edo State Government, on Monday marked a major policy milestone with the unveiling of what has been describe as the largest single agricultural mechanisation investment in the State’s history, signalling Governor Monday Okpebholo’s commitment to repositioning Edo as a national hub for commercial agriculture and food security.
The commissioning ceremony, held at Government House, Benin City, was presided over by Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was on a working visit to the state alongside several federal lawmakers.
The State unveiled 30 new tractors, five bulldozers, 150 implements, and a lowbed truck; machinery expected to drastically expand Edo’s agricultural capacity, enhance productivity, and accelerate rural development.
Governor Okpebholo said the acquisition forms a central pillar of his administration’s agricultural transformation agenda, designed to open thousands of hectares of new farmlands, attract agribusiness investments, reduce post-harvest losses, and create sustainable employment opportunities for youths and women.
This is contained in a statement issued by
Fred Itua, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary.
“This is a strategic investment that will change the trajectory of Edo’s economy,” he said. “We are laying the foundation for food sufficiency, commercial-scale farming, and long-term prosperity for our people.”
The Governor added that the machinery symbolises a shift from subsistence agriculture to full mechanisation, ensuring Edo State becomes a reliable contributor to national food reserves while reducing the state’s vulnerability to economic shocks.
Attending the ceremony were Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole; federal legislators; and other top government officials.
However, the policy-focused event also intersected with the State’s renewed drive for transparency and accountability.
Governor Okpebholo reiterated his administration’s resolve to ensure clarity and responsibility in the management of public funds, referencing concerns surrounding the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project and calling for the repatriation of former governor Godwin Obaseki to “answer critical questions.”
Senate President Akpabio responded that the Federal Government would review the State’s submissions and that due process would guide all further actions.
Goodwill messages from senior political leaders, including Speaker Blessing Agbebaku, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, described the investment as a turning point in Edo’s economic revival, commending Governor Okpebholo for placing agriculture at the centre of his administration’s development blueprint.
They noted that the strategic mechanisation drive establishes Edo as one of the most forward-looking agricultural states in Nigeria and reflects a governance philosophy that prioritises productivity, transparency, and long-term value creation.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio with Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo formally test-running one of the agricultural equipment in Benin, yesterday. Photo: Senate President’s Office
