Russia says Niger state seeks $110 million in farm equipment

Russia says Nigeria’s Niger state has submitted a request to purchase agricultural equipment from the country worth over $110 million.

Maxim Petrov, Russia’s Trade Representative in Nigeria, told TASS that several Nigerian states had expressed interest in acquiring Russian agricultural machinery.

“Thanks to the strategy for agriculture development, a number of Nigeria’s states take a serious interest in purchasing domestic agriculture machinery and equipment. In particular, Niger State has made a request worth over $110 mln,” he said.

The matter was discussed during an online seminar for exporters organized in collaboration with the Russian Export Center earlier this week.

Niger State has been ramping up investments in agriculture to combat food insecurity and boost earnings. In November 2023, Governor Umaru Bago visited Czechoslovakia-based Zetor, a major agricultural machinery manufacturer, to procure tractors.

He had previously signed an agreement with Germany’s Sun Farming to establish a farm estate in the state. In 2024, the state received an additional 2,000 farm equipment units.

$1.5B Investment in Nigeria

Russia says investment projects involving Russian capital in Nigeria have totaled over $1.5 billion within a year.

“The number of investment projects implemented by Russian companies has seriously increased since Russia’s trade mission was opened in Nigeria a year ago. Among them are the construction of a dealership center by Avtovaz, the opening of an agriculture cluster in the Lekki Free Zone, as well as a number of projects for the construction of engineering and energy infrastructure. The projects are totally worth over $1.5 bln,” Petrov said.

He noted that Moscow aims to support Nigeria—now a BRICS partner country—in developing its agriculture, oil and gas sector, and mineral resources.

Nigeria joined BRICS as a partner country on January 18. The country’s Foreign Ministry previously stated that BRICS provides Nigeria with a unique opportunity to expand trade, investment, and socio-economic cooperation with its member nations.