Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, said that the state government would subsidise the cost of petrol to farmers in communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency.
Zulum stated this on Friday evening in Bama town where he flagged off the distribution of farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers hitherto displaced by Boko Haram insurgents.
Announcing the petrol subsidy, the governor noted that a litre of petrol sold between N1,000 and N1,200 in Maiduguri would be subsidised to the farmers for N600.
The intervention he said, was aimed at ameliorating the financial strain farmers in communities bedevilled by economic and infrastructural destruction due to years of conflict are experiencing.
Zulum explained that a similar initiative implemented in Damasak, Mobar Local Government Area, last year had significantly increased food production and improved livelihoods.
“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 government will procure petroleum products and sell to the farmers at a subsidised rate. A litre of petrol is being sold in Maiduguri at the cost of about N1,200 but in’shAllah, 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 said.