Gbenga Akingbule
In a clear move to empower rural farmers and increase food security, particularly in areas that have suffered from the ongoing 15-year insurgency, the Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, on Friday slashed petrol prices to N600 per litre for farmers.
Gatekeepers News reports that the petrol subsidy, according to the state government, will assist farmers who were hitherto displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency return to their farmlands.
Zulum revealed that the state government will procure petro and resell to farmers at a subsided rate of N600 per litre. He added that the government intends to commit the sum of N1 billion to the exercise.
The governor announced the subsidy during the flagged off the distribution of farm inputs to over 5,000 displaced farmers in Bama – a town that was heavily hit by Boko Haram Terrorists before military displaced the insurgents.
According to the governor, a litre of petrol sold between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri, the state capital will be subsidised to the farmers for N600. “This is aimed at alleviating the financial burdens faced by farmers in communities that have suffered economic and infrastructural destruction due to years of conflict.”
Zulum emphasised that a similar initiative implemented in Damasak, Mobar Local Government Area, last year has significantly increased food production and improved livelihoods.
“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 inshallah, henceforth for irrigation farmers this season a litre of petrol will be sold at the rate of N600,” Zulum said.
The governor also 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.
According to him, 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.
Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has also visited Darajama and Goniri villages under Bama Local Government to assess the ongoing reconstruction work.
Zulum expressed satisfaction with the quality of the project but also reiterated that his administration will not allow anyone to sabotage its resettlement drive.
The governor expressed gratitude to the federal government for the tremendous support of his administration’s reconstruction and resettlement of communities affected by insurgency
