Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has announced plans to reduce the price of petrol for select farmers in the state.
The governor made the announcement while speaking in Bama town on Friday evening. Governor Zulum revealed that the state government will subsidize the cost of petrol to farmers in communities affected by the insurgency. According to the governor, a litre of petrol sold between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri will be subsidized to the farmers for N600.
This initiative is aimed at supporting farmers who have been displaced by Boko Haram insurgents and are struggling to recover. Zulum emphasized that a similar initiative implemented in Damasak, Mobar Local Government Area, last year has significantly increased food production and improved livelihoods.
His words, “One of the major challenges that are 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 subsided 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.”
Zulum added, “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.”
The governor also distributed farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers, 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.