Borno Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum has revealed his administration's strategy to address the rising fuel costs impacting farmers involved in irrigation within communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. This initiative includes a 50 percent fuel subsidy.
During an announcement made on Friday evening in Bama, Zulum highlighted that while petrol prices in Maiduguri range from N1,000 to N1,200 per litre, irrigation farmers will be able to purchase it for N600.
“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 government will procure petroleum products and sell 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’shAllah, henceforth for irrigation farmers, this season, a litre of petrol will be sold at the rate of N600.
“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,” he said.
Zulum also provided agricultural inputs to farmers during his visit, which included 2,000 bags of blended NPK fertilizer, 1,000 water pumps, and 620 gasoline pumps.
The Borno governor stated that this initiative aims to ease the financial challenges faced by farmers in areas that have experienced economic and infrastructural devastation due to prolonged conflict.
He highlighted that a similar program conducted in Damasak, Mobar Local Government Area, last year had led to a notable increase in food production and enhanced livelihoods.
Additional supplies distributed included 380 solar water pumps, 1,000 sprayers, 800 rolls of 2-inch flexible hose, and 1,000 liters of pesticides and seeds, among other resources.
During the event, Zulum mentioned that his administration has built over 100 tube wells for irrigation farmers and announced plans to construct an additional 250.
He also visited the villages of Darajama and Goniri in Bama Local Government to evaluate the ongoing reconstruction efforts.
Expressing satisfaction with the project's quality, the Governor reaffirmed his administration's commitment to preventing any sabotage of its resettlement initiatives.
He also extended his gratitude to the federal government for its significant support in the reconstruction and resettlement of communities impacted by insurgency.