Gov. Aliyu Flags Off ₦3bn Fertiliser Sale for 2026 Dry-Season Farming
Gov. Aliyu Flags Off ₦3bn Fertiliser Sale for 2026 Dry-Season Farming
From Muhammad Gazali Garba
Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, has flagged off the sale of 102 trucks of fertiliser valued at ₦3 billion to farmers across the 23 local government areas of the state, as part of efforts to boost agricultural productivity and support dry-season farming.
The flag-off ceremony was held at the Wurno Local Government Secretariat in Wurno Local Government Area, where the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring timely and affordable access to essential agricultural inputs for farmers across the state.
Governor Aliyu disclosed that a total of 52 trucks of urea fertiliser and 50 trucks of NPK fertiliser were procured for the exercise.
He explained that each of the 23 local government areas of the state would receive two trucks of urea and one truck of NPK to ensure equitable distribution.
The governor further stated that a bag of urea would be sold at ₦19,000, while a bag of NPK would be sold at ₦18,000.
He noted that the fertiliser was heavily subsidised, with urea subsidised by 62 percent and NPK by 60 percent, to ease the financial burden on farmers.
Aliyu explained that initially, the fertiliser was distributed to farmers free of charge, but due to the activities of some unscrupulous individuals who obtained it through other means, the government decided to sell it at subsidised rates to ensure fairness and transparency.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at enhancing food security, increasing crop yields and improving the livelihoods of farmers, adding that agriculture remains a key pillar of the state’s economic development.
The governor said that apart from the sale of fertiliser, his administration has introduced several other interventions to boost agricultural activities, including the ongoing renovation of Lugu Dam and the award of a contract for the procurement of 250 tractors at a cost of over ₦22 billion.
Governor Aliyu assured that the fertiliser would be sold transparently and strictly to genuine farmers.
He warned against diversion and sharp practices, calling for the arrest and prosecution of any individual or group found diverting the commodity.
He directed relevant authorities and local government officials to closely monitor the sales process to ensure accountability and urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the fertiliser to maximise output.
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Tukur Alkali, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mustafa Alkali, commended the state government for prioritising the agricultural sector.
He said that the timely provision of subsidised fertiliser would go a long way in ensuring a successful dry-season farming season across the state.
Alhaji Mustafa Alkali, on behalf of the commissioner, urged farmers to make full use of the initiative to boost food production and support the state’s efforts towards achieving food security.
The Chairman of Wurno Local Government, Alhaji Abba Isah Sadiq, expressed his appreciation to the governor for bringing the fertiliser directly to the local government.
He assured that the council would fully cooperate with state authorities to ensure that the fertiliser is distributed fairly to genuine farmers and that the exercise would be closely monitored at the grassroots level.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, was represented at the event by the Waziri, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, who lauded the state government for its continued support of farmers.
He urged beneficiaries to use the fertiliser responsibly to maximise agricultural output and contribute to the overall development and food security of Sokoto State.
