Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has announced that the state government will subsidise the cost of petrol to N600 per litre for farmers in communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency.
A statement on Saturday by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on New media, Abdulrahman Bundi, said Zulum announced the subsidy on Friday evening during the flagged-off distribution of farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers displaced by Boko Haram insurgents in Bama town.
He said a litre of petrol sold between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri 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.
“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 said Zulum distributed farm inputs, including 2000 bags of blended NPK fertiliser, 1000 units of water pumps, and 620 units of gasoline pumps.
According to him, other materials include 380 units of solar water pumps, 1000 units of sprayers, 800 rolls of 2-inch flexible hoses, and 1000 litres of pesticides and seeds, among other items.
He said Zulum expressed gratitude to the federal government for the tremendous support of his administration’s effort in reconstructing and resettling communities affected by insurgency.
