Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has announced plans to subsidise the cost of a litre of petrol at N600 for farmers in communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency.
Zulum announced the subsidy on Friday evening in Bama town when he flagged off the distribution of farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers hitherto displaced by Boko Haram insurgents.
The governor in a statement by one of his media aide, Fatima Mohammed Abbas, a litre of petrol which sells between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri will be subsidised to the farmers for N600.
Zulum said 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.
He added that a similar initiative implemented in Damasak, Mobar Local Government Area, last year has significantly increased food production and improved livelihoods.
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, Zulum 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 supporting his administration’s reconstruction and resettlement of communities affected by insurgency.
