The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), unveiled the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Institute (AMEDI) in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, on Saturday. The inauguration marks a key step in the government’s effort to achieve food sufficiency across the state and Nigeria as a whole. The project, which was flagged off by the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, on 1 August 2022, was completed ahead of the January 2023 target set by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
During the ceremony, President Buhari emphasized that the establishment of this institute, together with similar facilities in each of the six geo‑political zones, reflects his administration’s commitment to revolutionising the agricultural sector. He praised NASENI’s management and staff for meeting the deadline and said the institute will transform Nigeria into an agro‑allied technology hub, boosting domestic food production and creating export opportunities. “I want Nigerians to produce what they eat, eat what they produce, and keep enough for exports,” he declared.
Professor Mohammed Sani‑Haruna, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, explained that the institute’s structures—including road networks, workshops, laboratories, and a gatehouse—were constructed within five months. He noted that the rapid delivery was intended not only to showcase the agency’s new status but also to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a manufacturing economy. “AMEDI Lafia is the first of the six institutes to be completed across the geo‑political zones,” he said. “The model institute was conceived to use science and engineering infrastructure to support the President’s goal of food and nutritional security for Nigerians.” He added that NASENI plans to use the AMEDI platforms to modernise agribusiness, scale agro‑enterprises sustainably, and generate new jobs and wealth.
The institute is equipped with a Central Research Laboratory to support research across various value chains of its target product lines. Modern equipment for processing fruit juices, milk, tomatoes, and other products has also been installed. Professor Sani‑Haruna expressed gratitude to President Buhari for his strong support, which enabled the agency to complete the project on schedule.
President Buhari arrived in Lafia at 10:30 a.m. on a presidential jet (5N‑FG2) and was received at the Government House by Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, along with his counterparts from Kogi and Niger states. Also present were All Progressives Congress National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu, former Nasarawa Governor Senator Umaru Tanko Al‑Makura, Nasarawa State Speaker Ibrahim Balarabe‑Abdullahi, and other dignitaries.
Comments are closed for this story.