The Borno State Government, under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, has introduced a petrol subsidy initiative aimed at supporting farmers engaged in irrigation farming across the state. The subsidy will see petrol sold to farmers at N600 per litre, significantly lower than the market price of approximately N1,200 per litre in Maiduguri.
Governor Zulum announced the initiative on Friday during a ceremony in Bama town, where equipment and farming materials were distributed to irrigation farmers. The governor highlighted the critical role of affordable petrol in irrigation farming and pledged his administration’s commitment to easing the financial challenges faced by farming communities in the conflict-affected region.
“One of the major challenges facing farming communities here is the rising cost of fuel, which is essential for irrigation farming,” Zulum said. “To alleviate this burden, the government will procure petroleum products and sell them to farmers at a subsidised rate of N600 per litre for this farming season.”
In a statement released on Saturday, Abdurrahman Bundi, the governor’s media aide, emphasised that the subsidy is part of a broader strategy to rebuild the state’s agricultural sector, which has been devastated by years of conflict. “The initiative aims to alleviate the financial burdens faced by farmers in communities that have suffered economic and infrastructural destruction due to years of insurgency,” Bundi said.
During the ceremony in Bama, Governor Zulum distributed a variety of farming inputs to bolster agricultural productivity. These included 2,000 bags of blended NPK fertiliser, 1,000 water pumps, 620 gasoline pumps, and 380 solar-powered water pumps. Additionally, the farmers received 1,000 units of sprayers, 800 rolls of 2-inch flexible hose, 1,000 litres of pesticides, and assorted seeds.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting agricultural development as a means of fostering food security, reducing poverty, and accelerating economic recovery in Borno State. The distribution event and the subsidy initiative are expected to boost irrigation farming and improve farmers’ livelihoods in the affected areas.
This latest intervention is part of Zulum’s broader efforts to revitalise the state’s economy and enhance resilience among residents who have endured years of hardship caused by the Boko Haram insurgency. The petrol subsidy and farm input distribution have been widely welcomed by the farming community, who see it as a lifeline in the challenging economic climate.
The Borno State Government continues to demonstrate its dedication to rebuilding livelihoods and fostering sustainable development through initiatives like this, which address critical barriers to agricultural productivity.
