Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has announced that the state government will subsidize the cost of petrol to N600 per litre for farmers in communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
A statement on Saturday from the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Abdulrahman Bundi, revealed that Zulum made this announcement on Friday evening during the launch of farm input distribution for over 5,000 farmers displaced by Boko Haram insurgents in Bama town.
He stated that while a litre of petrol sells for between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri, it would be subsidized to N600 for the farmers.
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“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.
“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 subsidised 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.
“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 quoted the governor.
He stated that Zulum distributed various farm inputs, including 2,000 bags of blended NPK fertilizer, 1,000 units of water pumps, and 620 units of gasoline pumps.
Other materials distributed included 380 units of solar water pumps, 1,000 units of sprayers, 800 rolls of 2-inch flexible hoses, as well as 1,000 liters of pesticides and seeds, among other items.
Zulum also expressed gratitude to the federal government for its significant support of his administration’s efforts in rebuilding and resettling communities impacted by insurgency.