Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Flags Off Free Fertilizer Distribution, Warns Against Diversion
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
Governor Ahmed Aliyu has launched the free distribution of fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers across the 23 Local Government Areas of Sokoto State, warning that anyone found diverting the commodities will face the full weight of the law.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony on Saturday, the governor said the state government procured 157,800 bags of assorted NPK and Urea fertilizers, valued at over ₦7.7 billion, for free distribution to genuine farmers. He said each local government will receive six truckloads of fertilizer.
Aliyu explained that the government reverted to free distribution after introducing stricter measures to prevent diversion by middlemen, which had undermined previous interventions.
The governor also announced the procurement of 12,800 bags of improved seeds, herbicides, and insecticides to boost agricultural productivity. He further disclosed that the state had purchased 250 MF-375 Massey Ferguson tractors worth over ₦22.1 billion, with 90 percent already delivered, while the Federal Government has offered Sokoto an additional 100 Belarus tractors under a cost-sharing arrangement.
The Chairman of the Fertilizer Distribution Committee, and former Deputy Governor of Sokoto, Alhaji Chiso Abdullahi Dattijo, described the programme as a transparent initiative aimed at improving agricultural output, reducing food production costs, and strengthening farmers’ livelihoods.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, commended Governor Aliyu’s commitment to agriculture, while the Commissioner for Agriculture and other stakeholders praised the administration’s efforts to improve food security and rural infrastructure.
