- Governor Flags Off Farm Input Distribution for Over 5,000 Farmers in Bama
- Initiative Aims to Address Fuel Costs and Drive Economic Recovery in Conflict-Affected Areas
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced a major subsidy on petrol for farmers and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) returning to their communities after years of insurgency. The initiative, aimed at easing the financial burden on these groups, was unveiled in Bama town over the weekend during the distribution of farm inputs to more than 5,000 farmers displaced by Boko Haram insurgents.
Governor Zulum revealed that while a litre of petrol currently sells for N1,000 to N1,200 in Maiduguri, it will be provided to farmers at a subsidised rate of N600. He explained that the move is part of efforts to rebuild livelihoods in communities devastated by years of conflict.
“One of the major challenges facing farming communities here, especially for irrigation farming, is the high cost of fuel. To address this, the government will procure petroleum products and sell them at a subsidised rate of N600 per litre to farmers,” Zulum announced.
This initiative mirrors a similar program in Damasak, Mobar Local Government Area, last year, which reportedly increased food production and improved living conditions.
To support irrigation farming further, Zulum distributed farm inputs, including 2,000 bags of blended NPK fertiliser, 1,000 water pumps, 620 gasoline pumps, 380 solar water pumps, 800 rolls of flexible hoses, and 1,000 litres of pesticides and seeds. His administration has also constructed over 100 tube wells for irrigation and approved an additional 250 to be built.
Zulum tasked the Commissioner for Agriculture and the Brigade Commander with ensuring the timely delivery of petrol to farmers in Bama.
Meanwhile, the governor visited Darajama and Goniri villages in Bama Local Government to inspect ongoing reconstruction projects. Expressing satisfaction with the work, he reiterated his commitment to resettlement efforts and vowed to prevent any sabotage of the state’s recovery initiatives.
Governor Zulum thanked the federal government for its support in the reconstruction and resettlement of communities affected by insurgency, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts in rebuilding the region.
