Governor Ahmed Aliyu has flagged off the free distribution of fertiliser and other agricultural inputs to farmers across Sokoto State’s 23 local government areas, warning that anyone found diverting the items will face prosecution.
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 wet season farming support programme, the governor disclosed that the state government procured 157,800 bags of assorted NPK and Urea fertilisers, valued at N7.71 billion, for distribution to genuine farmers.
According to him, each of the state’s 23 local government areas will receive six truckloads of fertiliser free of charge.
Aliyu said the government had previously distributed free fertiliser on three occasions but later switched to subsidised sales after discovering that middlemen were diverting the products from intended beneficiaries.
“We have now introduced measures to eliminate these sharp practices. If we succeed in stopping the diversion, the fertiliser distribution programme will remain free for our farmers,” he said.
The governor also announced the procurement of 12,800 bags of improved seeds, including millet, hybrid maize, beans, cowpea, sorghum and FARO 44 rice, alongside herbicides and insecticides to boost agricultural productivity across the state.
As part of efforts to modernise agriculture, Aliyu revealed that his administration had procured 250 MF-375 Massey Ferguson tractors worth N22.13 billion, with 75 per cent of the contract sum already paid and about 90 per cent of the tractors delivered.
He further disclosed that the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had also offered Sokoto the opportunity to acquire an additional 100 Belarus tractors through the Bank of Agriculture, with the state paying only 60 per cent of the cost.
Earlier, Chairman of the Fertiliser and Essential Commodities Distribution Committee, Chuso Abdullahi Dattijo, said the programme was designed to ensure genuine farmers receive quality fertiliser through a transparent and accountable distribution process, while boosting food production and improving livelihoods.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Tukur Alkali, commended the government’s continued investment in agriculture and rural road infrastructure, describing the initiatives as key to improving food security and attracting investment.
Also speaking, the Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III praised Governor Aliyu’s farmer-focused policies, saying they would enhance crop yields and strengthen food production in the state.
Representing the 23 local government chairmen, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dadi Adare, assured the governor that strict monitoring mechanisms had been put in place to ensure the fertiliser reaches the intended beneficiaries.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by prominent government officials, lawmakers, traditional rulers and political leaders, including former Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.
