From now until the end of the rainy season, the best time to plant crops, farmers in the Maiduguri environs of Borno State will have free transport to get to and from their lands – and security will be on hand to help prevent attacks by insurgents and other criminals.
Governor Babagana Zulum, addressing thousands of farmers in Molai on Tuesday, July 4, at the launch of the initiative, announced that 50 buses had been commissioned from the state’s transport company, the Borno Express Corporation and that the government had hired 30 pick-up vans to transport farmers to and from their lands.
The initiative was aimed not only at reducing the number of attacks on farmers, but also to reduce the high costs of transport caused by President Bola Tinubu’s decision to halt the fuel subsidy which had resulted in soaring fuel prices.
Before the initiative was introduced, farmers had to pay hundreds of naira each day to get to and from their lands in outlying areas.
In June, after a spate of gruesome attacks on farmers, Zulum pledged to partner with the military and other operatives to strengthen security measures and safeguard farmers on their lands.
The initiative was launched on Tuesday for farmers living in towns and villages along the Maiduguri-Damboa and the Maiduguri-Mafa roads but would be expanded to other areas, including the Maiduguri-Monguno highway, Maiduguri-Bama, Maiduguri-Gubio and the Maiduguri-Damaturu/Kano roads. The governor did not say when the further rollouts would happen.
At the launch, Zulum told farmers in Molai: “We are here purposely to support the farmers; you can see thousands of them have gathered and their number could reach up to 100,000. Due to the removal of fuel subsidy which, although has a long-term benefit, the cost of transportation has increased. Therefore, the Borno State government has decided to provide 50 buses [and 30 pick-up vans] to convey farmers to their lands this rainy season.”
He urged farmers to cooperate with soldiers, police and other security operatives who would be deployed on the roads to protect lives and properties. He said this applied particularly to farmers whose lands were in outlying areas.
“I want to urge you [farmers] to give maximum support and cooperation to the Nigerian military. They [soldiers] are here to protect you.”
He said he was grateful to the army and other security operatives, such as members of the civilian joint task force (CJTF), local hunters, vigilantes and agro-rangers, who would escort the farmers to their lands and would conduct patrols in the forests while the farmers worked.
The governor said he was grateful to the army and other security operatives “for their sacrifices in protecting Borno’s people”. Their work was now “enabling farming activities across the state”.
Malam Mohammed, a farmer, said the initiative was a welcome relief that would cushion the hardships experienced, especially the hike in transport fares, which had soared as the price of fuel increased.
“Some farmers have found it extremely difficult to continue working on their lands because transport fares have increased so much. I have been paying about ₦300 to ₦400 daily to get to my land. But now, with the provision of vehicles, I can go to my land without paying even a penny. I hope this will continue, so that all of us will be able to continue farming without any hindrances.”
Mohammed said he was delighted to see the free vehicles parked on the side of the Maiduguri-Mafa road on Wednesday.
“They were there at about 7am ready to take farmers to their lands. There were also many soldiers and CJTF members in vehicles and on motorbikes ready to escort the farmers to their lands.”
Falmata Kolo said she was grateful to the government for providing free transport to her farm beyond Dalwa town because she could not afford to pay the exorbitant fare.
“But I missed out on free transport on Wednesday because I was late. I will be more punctual from now on.”
A government official, who asked to remain anonymous, told RNI that the state’s transportation sector would continue to inform the public about the processes, procedures and guidelines for accessing the free transport once the initiative was fully rolled out in all areas.
SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO
