Jubilation as Gov Zulum slashes fuel price to N600/litre in Borno communities

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has announced a petrol subsidy initiative aimed at supporting farmers in communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The announcement was made on Friday in Bama town during the distribution of farm inputs to over 5,000 farmers who were previously displaced by the insurgents.

Under the subsidy program, farmers will purchase petrol at N600 per litre, significantly lower than the market price of N1,000 to N1,200 per litre in Maiduguri.

The initiative seeks to alleviate financial burdens and enhance agricultural productivity in areas devastated by the insurgency.

“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 subsided rate, a litre of petrol is being sold in Maiduguri at the cost of about N1,200 but in sha Allah, henceforth for irrigation farmers this season a litre of petrol will be sold at the rate of N600,” Zulum said.

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, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has 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 the tremendous support of his administration’s reconstruction and resettlement of communities affected by insurgency.