Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has flagged off the sale of fertilizers at 50% subsidized rates to farmers across the state for the 2025 wet farming season.
The exercise, which took place in Maiduguri on Saturday, is part of the state government’s broader agricultural support program aimed at boosting food production, enhancing livelihoods, and improving food security in the region.
Governor Zulum stated that the fertilizers would be sold to farmers at N15,000 per bag, compared to the market price of N30,000, thereby cutting the cost of agricultural inputs in half. He added that a total of 100 trucks of NPK fertilizer would be distributed across all the local government areas of the state.
While launching the scheme, Zulum issued a strong warning against the diversion and hoarding of the fertilizer by middlemen or government officials. He stressed that the inputs must reach genuine farmers and not end up in private stores for resale at inflated prices.
“This initiative is meant for our farmers. I urge all the officials involved in the distribution to ensure transparency and accountability. We will not hesitate to take disciplinary actions against anyone found diverting or hoarding the fertilizers,” Zulum said.
He noted that the intervention is aimed at increasing productivity, reducing hunger, and enhancing the resilience of communities that are gradually recovering from over a decade of insurgency-related disruptions.
The governor also disclosed that his administration is taking steps to support dry season farming through the rehabilitation of irrigation facilities and provision of other inputs later in the year.
Zulum reaffirmed his commitment to developing agriculture as a key pillar of the state’s economic recovery and resilience plan, stressing that food production must not be left to chance, especially with the increasing threat of climate change and insecurity.
Several stakeholders including traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and farmers’ representatives attended the event and commended the government for the timely intervention.
