Farmers in Maiduguri have lauded the state government’s initiative to provide free bus rides for those whose farms are located on the outskirts of Maiduguri town.

A cross-section of farmers who spoke to journalists said the gesture was a big relief, and they remained grateful to the government and other stakeholders like the Borno Express Corporation.

A farmer, Yusuf Lawan, said, “Many of us would have abandoned farming without this support from the government. Like me now, my farm is in Tungushe village, and I need a minimum of N2,000 transport fare daily to go and come back.

“Our governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum and all those involved in initiating this programme since last year and still sustaining it this year deserve commendation and special prayers to continue to succeed,” Mr Lawan said.

A female farmer, Yagana Mohammed, said she needed N800 daily to go to her farm without the bus.

“Where will I see N800 daily for transport fare? I would have abandoned farming,” Ms Mohammad said.

She expressed satisfaction with the steady rainfall being recorded and prayed for a bumper harvest in Borno and the nation for the needed relief against hunger.

Abubakar Ibrahim, Yohanna Buba, Filibus Ajiya and Rakiya Simon said they would have been spending not less than N3,000 daily to go to the farm with their children if the free bus service was unavailable.

“ It is a blessing to have transport at a subsidised rate; by God’s grace, we are even having it free in Borno. This is what good governance is all about,” Mr Ajiya said.

One of the drivers of the buses along Baga Road, Ali Shettima, said 16 buses were deployed along the road.

“We start work around 6:00 a.m., and each bus has the capacity of carrying 100 passengers, including those standing.

“We are always around to take the farmers back home from 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.,” Mr Shettima said.

A director with the Borno Express Corporation monitoring the exercise along Maiduguri – Damboa road, Mohammed Dahaya, said the route has the highest concentration of farmers, saying 50 buses were involved in the exercise plying four different routes.

“We also involved 15 tricycles known as jega and 15 Isuzus,” he said.

Mr Dahaya said there was a plan to expand the exercise to other axes, adding that the programme was introduced in the 2023 cropping season, and the one for 2024 started on July 11.

According to him, the buses along Damboa road convey farmers as far as Dalwa village, which is about 30 kilometres from Maiduguri.

(NAN)