At least, 20 bags of fertilizer were distributed by Bwari Area Council to representatives of its 10 wards for onward distribution to farmers in the area.
Chairman of the council, Mr John Gabaya, disclosed this at the event in Bwari, Abuja.
Gabaya said that the effort was to support the farmers to boost crops production in the council.
He added that farming was the major occupation of the indigenous people of the area, noting that there was no better way to complement their efforts than providing the inputs.
“We deemed it necessary to assist these farmers so as to boost production in this year’s farming season.
”We were able to afford a trailer load of both the NPK and Urea kind of fertilizers to be shared among the farmers in the 10 different wards of this council.
”The councillors for each ward are here and would receive the input on behalf of the different wards. We have put in place how the sharing formula would be executed because the councilors would take 20 bags each for their separate wards.
“The sharing would be such that one person can get at least a mudu or even half bag which we expect should go a long way for them.”
He said that traditional heads of the council would take a bag or two each, as well as other individuals in identified groups of the area.
Gabaya, who cautioned the people against selling the product, said that although the council bought them at subsidised price, it is given to them free of charge.
“This is our own way of supporting the farmers; please it must not be sold at any point. I also encourage the farmers to make good use of it ,“he said.
Mr Dogara Ahmed, councilor of Byazhin ward and Speaker of the council`s Legislative arm, who received the items on behalf of his ward, applauded the chairman’s efforts.
Ahmed said the distribution was timely as it would help to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.
“We have initially wondered how we were going to make fertilizer available to our people in Byazhin ward because of the inflation and impact of the fuel price increase.
“The chairman has indeed touched their lives with this initiative and we are grateful because, no matter how small it is, it will go a long way for them,” Ahmed said.
He said that it was the plan of the council`s administration to also purchase and make a similar distribution of agro-chemicals to the farmers.
Ahmed said that the legislative arm would support the chairman to enable him fulfill his promises.
In attendance were Heads of Departments in the council, councilors of the 10 wards, traditional heads in the district, as well as political party support groups among others.