Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
Sokoto State Government has intensified efforts to safeguard its agricultural support programme, issuing a strong warning against the diversion of fertiliser meant for farmers as Kebbe Local Government Area received 3,600 bags of free fertiliser for distribution during the 2026 wet farming season.
The warning was delivered during the allocation exercise in Kebbe, where six truckloads of fertiliser, containing 600 bags each, were handed over for onward distribution to beneficiaries across the local government.
Chairman of the distribution committee, retired Colonel Garba Moyi Isa, said the initiative forms part of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s comprehensive agricultural intervention programme designed to boost food production, improve rural livelihoods and strengthen food security across Sokoto State.
He explained that the fertiliser allocation was structured to ensure fairness and transparency, with each of the 124 polling units in Kebbe Local Government receiving 15 bags of NPK fertiliser and five bags of Urea for distribution to genuine farmers.
According to him, the fertiliser is being provided free of charge by the state government and must reach the intended beneficiaries without interference from middlemen or political actors seeking personal gain.
“We have established a transparent distribution mechanism to ensure that only genuine farmers benefit from this program.
“Anyone found diverting or attempting to sell fertiliser meant for farmers will face appropriate sanctions,” Colonel Garba warned.
He called on community leaders, APC stakeholders, ward officials and security agencies to closely monitor the exercise and promptly report any attempt to undermine the programme.
The committee chairman praised Governor Ahmed Aliyu for sustaining investment in agriculture, describing the fertiliser distribution as a strategic intervention capable of increasing crop yields and easing production challenges facing rural farmers.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Kebbe Local Government, Hon. Musa Garba Kuchi, cautioned against allowing government supplied fertiliser to fall into the hands of traders and speculators.
He noted that the state government had committed substantial resources to procure and distribute the fertiliser free of charge and therefore expected beneficiaries to utilise it solely for agricultural purposes.
“This fertiliser belongs to the farmers. It is not meant for traders, speculators or middlemen.
“We will not tolerate any attempt to divert, hoard or resell what government has provided freely to support food production,” Kuchi declared.
The council chairman urged beneficiaries to apply the fertiliser effectively on their farms to enhance productivity and support ongoing efforts to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency and strengthen national food security.
Kuchi further observed that Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s agricultural policies were already producing positive results through the provision of fertilisers, improved seeds and other farming inputs targeted at smallholder farmers across the state.
He appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders and youth groups to assist in protecting the integrity of the distribution process, stressing that every diverted bag represents a loss to hardworking farmers and undermines efforts to increase food production.
Stakeholders at the event commended the state government for the intervention, describing it as timely and crucial in helping farmers cope with rising production costs while preparing for the peak farming season.
The fertiliser distribution is part of the wider agricultural empowerment program of the Ahmed Aliyu administration, which continues to prioritise support for farmers as a key driver of economic growth, job creation and sustainable food sufficiency in Sokoto State.
Officials overseeing the exercise reiterated that strict monitoring mechanisms have been put in place and warned that anyone found diverting fertiliser or exploiting beneficiaries would be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
