By Rakiya A.Muhammad
With Sokoto State rolling out free fertiliser and farm inputs, Governor Ahmad Aliyu says his government will implement new safeguards to prevent those who have kept real farmers from accessing these essential resources.
“We have now introduced measures to curb the activities of the unpatriotic individuals who denied genuine farmers access to the free fertiliser,” he asserted.
“If we succeed in eliminating these sharp practices, the fertiliser distribution programme will continue to be free for our farmers.”
The governor noted that, upon assuming office, the administration distributed fertiliser free of charge to farmers on three separate occasions.
“However, we later discovered that the targeted farmers were not fully benefiting from the gesture due to the activities of middlemen,” he revealed.
“That informed our decision to sell the commodity at a subsidised rate last year.”
He warned that anyone found diverting the commodity will face the full wrath of the law.
This year, the State Government secured 157,800 bags of assorted fertilisers, valued at N7,706,800,000, for distribution to farmers across all 23 Local Government Areas.
Every one of the 23 Local Government Areas will receive six truckloads of fertiliser, ensuring genuine farmers get their share at no cost.
The State Government has also acquired 12,800 bags of improved seeds, along with herbicides and insecticides, to further support farmers throughout the state.
Pushing for full agricultural mechanisation, the administration invested N22,125,938,207.50 to bring in 250 MF-375 Massey Ferguson tractors, transforming the farming landscape.
Governor Aliyu disclosed that 75 per cent of the contract sum had been paid to the contractor.
“I’m happy to inform you that the contractor has already delivered 90 per cent of the tractors,” he stated, while noting progress on the project.
Aliyu added:”The Federal Government, under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has offered us the opportunity to acquire another 100 Belarus tractors through the Bank of Agriculture, with the state paying only 60 per cent of the cost of each tractor and its implements.”
Sokoto State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Tukur Alkali, lauded the State Government’s interventions in supporting farmers and ensuring food sufficiency in the state and nationwide.
He also acknowledged Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s efforts in constructing rural roads across the state, noting that the projects would boost agricultural activities and attract investors.
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, also commended Governor Aliyu for implementing agricultural programmes designed to improve harvest yields and increase food production.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Dadi Adare, commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for procuring fertiliser for free distribution to farmers across the state.
He assured the Governor that the local government chairmen would closely monitor the distribution process to ensure that the fertiliser reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee for the Supervision of Fertiliser and Other Essential Commodities Distribution, Alhaji Chuso Abdullahi Dattijo, said the programme was designed to strengthen livelihoods, boost agricultural output, reduce food production costs, and improve the economic well-being of every household in Sokoto State.
He described the 2026 wet season fertiliser distribution programme as evidence of the administration’s commitment to providing genuine farmers with timely access to quality fertiliser through a transparent and accountable distribution system.
Dattijo encouraged farmers to use the fertiliser efficiently, adopt improved agricultural practices, and maintain the resilience and diligence characteristic of Sokoto farmers.
