Volkswagen, one of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, is set to introduce electric tractors (e-tractors) in Nigeria as part of a broader initiative to enhance agricultural mechanization and boost food production.
The initiative, backed by the German government, is positioned as a game-changing move that could revolutionize Nigeria’s agribusiness sector.
The plan was disclosed by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, following a meeting with Mrs. Katja Keul, Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office, on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. According to Tuggar, Nigeria and Germany have strengthened economic ties, particularly in industrial growth and food security, with Volkswagen’s e-tractor initiative standing out as a key project.
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 19 (Feb 9 – May 2, 2026): big discounts for early bird.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Register for Tekedia AI Lab: From Technical Design to Deployment (next edition begins Jan 24 2026).
“We welcomed Volkswagen’s plans to introduce e-tractors to Nigeria, backed by the German government, as part of efforts to enhance agricultural mechanization,” Tuggar stated.
The rationale behind the initiative is to provide farmers with access to modern equipment, improving productivity while promoting sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices. Unlike traditional diesel-powered tractors, e-tractors require no fossil fuel, thereby cutting operational costs and reducing Nigeria’s carbon footprint.
With the agricultural sector struggling due to outdated equipment, low mechanization levels, and high production costs, the introduction of e-tractors was expected to be a major relief. However, the plan has reignited concerns over Nigeria’s chronic electricity crisis, with many questioning how electric tractors will function in a country already battling frequent power outages.
Where is the Electricity to Power the E-Tractors?
However, while this development may seem like a long-awaited answer to the country’s agricultural challenges, it has triggered a barrage of concerns, particularly regarding Nigeria’s poor electricity supply and the feasibility of running e-tractors in rural farming communities.
Critics of the initiative argue that while e-tractors might sound innovative, they may not be a practical solution for Nigerian farmers, given the severe power deficit in the country. Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity is woefully inadequate, standing at 5,528 megawatts (MW)—far short of the 30,000MW required for a stable power supply.
In a country where households and industries rely heavily on diesel and petrol generators due to inconsistent power supply, many are questioning: How will farmers in remote, off-grid rural communities charge these electric tractors?
“My gosh as a country do we even care about our interests. That is, that people in the village will use electricity to power tractor. Lol,” Ikenna Chris-Okoro wrote on X.
Nigeria’s agriculture sector is predominantly rural, with millions of farmers operating in villages and settlements where access to electricity is nearly non-existent. Even in urban centers where power infrastructure is better, electricity supply remains unstable, with frequent blackouts that cripple productivity and drive up costs.
Against this backdrop, many have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the plan, pointing out that many farmers do not even have access to electricity for household use, let alone for running farm machinery. With rural electrification projects still largely underdeveloped and slow-moving, there is concern that the e-tractor initiative could end up being another white elephant project—impressive in theory but impractical in execution.
Agricultural and energy experts believe that the electricity crisis must be addressed first before such an ambitious project can be successful.
Nigeria’s current power deficit has already stifled industrial growth, forcing many businesses to either shut down or relocate due to the high cost of running on alternative power sources.
The concern is that without addressing Nigeria’s fundamental electricity challenges, farmers could find themselves burdened with expensive, impractical machinery that they cannot use effectively. Solar-powered charging stations could be an alternative, but they would require substantial investment and infrastructure development, which the government has not yet committed to.
Germany’s Pledge to Support Other Sectors
Beyond e-tractors, the Nigeria-Germany meeting also touched on broader economic and cultural ties, including the restitution of Nigerian artifacts looted during the colonial era. Tuggar assured that agreements regarding the housing and preservation of these cultural items remain intact.
“We also addressed the ongoing restitution of Nigerian artifacts, reaffirming that the agreements on their housing and preservation remain intact,” he said.
Germany has also commended Nigeria and ECOWAS for their role in promoting regional security, with both countries agreeing on the need for African-led solutions to conflicts such as the Libya crisis.