Borno Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced that a litre of petrol sold between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri will be subsidised to the farmers for N600.
The governor said it is aimed at alleviating the financial burdens faced by farmers in communities that have suffered economic and infrastructural destruction due to years of conflic”
Zulum, who expressed gratitude to the federal government for the tremendous support of his administration’s reconstruction and resettlement of communities affected by insurgenc, announced the subsidy on Friday evening in Bama town when he flagged off the distribution of farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers hitherto displaced by Boko Haram insurgents.
He further said that a similar initiative implemented in Damasak, Mobar Local Government Area, last year has significantly increased food production and improved livelihoods.
According to the governor, “One of the major challenges that is facing the farming communities here as regards irrigation farming is the increasing cost of fuel, as a result.
“I want to announce to the general public that the government will procure petroleum products and sell them to the farmers at a subsidised rate; a litre of petrol is being sold in Maiduguri at the cost of about N1,200, but in sha Allah, henceforth for irrigation farmers this season, a litre of petrol will be sold at the rate of N600,” he said.
He further said; “The Commissioner for Agriculture will work with the Brigade Commander to ensure the delivery of the petroleum products to farmers in Bama town as soon as possible.”
In addition to the petrol subsidy, Zulum distributed farm inputs, including 2000 bags of blended NPK fertiliser, 1000 units of water pumps, and 620 units of gasoline pumps.
Other materials include 380 units of solar water pumps, 1000 units of sprayers, 800 rolls of 2-inch flexible hose, and 1000 litres of pesticides and seeds, among other items.
He also disclosed that his administration has constructed over 100 tube wells for use by irrigation farmers while also announcing the approval for the construction of an additional 250.
Relatedly, the governor has also visited Darajama and Goniri villages under Bama Local Government to assess the ongoing reconstruction work, as he expressed satisfaction with the quality of the projec,t but
reiterated that his administration will not allow anyone to sabotage its resettlement drive.
