Zulum Subsidizes Petrol for Farmers at N600/Litre in Insurgency-Hit Communities

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has unveiled a subsidy initiative aimed at supporting farmers in communities ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency. The announcement was made on Friday evening in Bama town, where the governor officially launched the distribution of crucial farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers who had previously been displaced by the conflict.

To help mitigate the financial pressures on farmers in the region, Zulum revealed that the state government would subsidize the cost of petrol for irrigation purposes. A litre of petrol, which typically sells for between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri, will now be made available to farmers at the subsidized rate of N600.

This move is designed to alleviate the economic hardships faced by farmers in areas devastated by years of insurgency, which have left communities struggling with the destruction of infrastructure and loss of livelihood. Zulum stressed that a similar initiative in Damasak last year had already shown positive results, boosting food production and improving the quality of life for local farmers.

“One of the major challenges facing farming communities, especially with irrigation, is the rising cost of fuel. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that the government will procure petroleum products and sell them at a subsidized rate. A litre of petrol, which costs around N1,200 in Maiduguri, will now be available to irrigation farmers at just N600,” Zulum said.

The governor also confirmed that the Commissioner for Agriculture would collaborate with the Brigade Commander to ensure timely delivery of the subsidized petrol to farmers in Bama.

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In addition to the petrol subsidy, Zulum distributed a range of essential farm inputs to the farmers. These included 2,000 bags of blended NPK fertilizer, 1,000 units of water pumps, 620 gasoline pumps, 380 solar water pumps, and 1,000 sprayers. Other distributed materials included 800 rolls of flexible hose and 1,000 litres of pesticides and seeds.

The governor highlighted his administration’s ongoing commitment to improving agricultural productivity in the region, revealing that over 100 tube wells have been constructed for irrigation farmers. He also announced the approval for the construction of an additional 250 tube wells to further support local agriculture.

Zulum took the opportunity to visit Darajama and Goniri villages within Bama Local Government Area, where he inspected ongoing reconstruction efforts. He expressed satisfaction with the quality of the work being done but reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward any attempts to sabotage the resettlement and reconstruction initiatives.

The governor also thanked the federal government for its vital support in the restoration and resettlement of communities affected by insurgency, emphasizing the collaborative effort needed to rebuild Borno State.