Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has officially launched the 2025 wet season farming campaign with the commencement of subsidized fertilizer distribution to support farmers and boost agricultural productivity across the state.
During the flag-off ceremony held in Gombe, governor Yahaya announced the procurement of 10,000 metric tonnes (equivalent to 200,000 bags) of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer. The product will be sold to farmers at a subsidized rate of ₦27,000 per bag, significantly reduced from the current market price of ₦44,000.
The governor disclosed that the quantity represents a 150 percent increase over the supply distributed during the 2024 wet season, underscoring his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s agricultural base and enhancing food security.
“This gesture underscores our commitment to making agriculture affordable, accessible, and productive,” Yahaya stated. “Timely access to agricultural inputs is key to improving yields and ensuring food sufficiency.”
He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which prioritizes agriculture as a cornerstone of inclusive economic development. Yahaya also noted that more than 80 percent of Gombe State’s population relies on farming as their primary livelihood.
To ensure accountability, the governor directed the Ministry of Agriculture, alongside security agencies and civil society organizations, to strictly monitor the sales and distribution of the fertilizer down to the grassroots.
“We shall ensure that the fertilizer reaches the intended beneficiaries by strengthening the monitoring system,” he warned. “Any individual found diverting these inputs will face the full wrath of the law.”
Governor Yahaya also highlighted a range of agricultural development programmes under his administration, which include collaborations with the Federal Government, World Bank, and African Development Bank on initiatives such as NG-CARES, RAAMP, L-PRES, ACReSAL, and the Sasakawa Africa Association.
He further cited the ongoing Agro-Livestock Development Zone project and the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, where Premier Seeds Nigeria Limited is now operating a seed processing facility, as key components of his vision to make Gombe a major hub for agro-based commerce in the North-East.
The governor urged farmers to use the subsidized inputs responsibly and to follow meteorological guidance to avoid crop loss. He also called for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders, warning traditional rulers against involvement in land encroachments that fuel such conflicts.
“We will not tolerate any act of encroachment into cattle routes or grazing reserves,” he said, vowing to implement recommendations from the Farmers/Herders Dispute Resolution Committees to address recurring clashes.
In a goodwill message, the Acting State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Absalom Akwaras Lansibol, lauded the Governor’s dedication to transforming the agricultural sector. He described the fertilizer intervention as “another milestone in the pursuit of food security and the improvement of rural livelihoods.”
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Dr. Barnabas M. Malle, praised Governor Yahaya’s consistency in subsidizing farm inputs despite fiscal constraints, noting that his commitment continues to uplift the state’s farming communities.