Follow Us on Google
Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, Governor Ahmad Aliyu has positioned agriculture as the cornerstone of Sokoto State’s development. His 9-Point Smart Innovative Agenda explicitly prioritises food security, rural empowerment, and economic diversification. Among his initiatives, the governor’s sustained support for dry season farming, through aggressive fertiliser distribution, irrigation rehabilitation, and mechanisation, has been phenomenal. It stands out as a model of visionary leadership. This multi-pronged strategy has not only enhanced productivity during the off-rainy season farming but also emerged as the most impactful agricultural intervention by any governor in Nigeria’s Northwest region since 2023.
For emphasis, it is worth repeating that Sokoto State possesses immense untapped potential for year-round agriculture. The Sokoto-Rima River Basin and existing dams such as Lugu and Kware have historically supported lowland irrigation farming. However, seasonal constraints, high input costs, and infrastructural decay have limited output. These had impacted Nigeria’s broader food security challenges, which are further exacerbated by climate variability, insecurity in the Northwest, and the 2022 floods, underscoring the urgency of dry-season farming. Dry season farming extends the cropping calendar, boosts staple and cash crop production, especially rice, wheat, onions, garlic, and tomatoes. It also creates off-season employment and stabilises food prices. Governor Aliyu recognised this early in his administration and framed dry season farming not as a supplementary activity but as a strategic imperative for self-reliance and export-oriented growth.
In his inaugural address, Governor Aliyu advocated for “farming without seasons.” He put action to words and followed this by directing the Ministry of Agriculture in Sokoto to revive irrigation infrastructure and subsidise inputs. In the 2024 rainy season, the state distributed 45,366 bags of NPK fertiliser, 24,264 bags of Urea, 20,664 litres of agro-chemicals, and 20,000kg each of improved seeds for rice, sorghum, and millet. These distributions laid the groundwork for dry-season success.
In December 2024, the governor inaugurated a landmark free fertiliser distribution programme specifically for dry season farmers. Each of Sokoto’s 23 local government areas received three trucks of assorted fertiliser, alongside other inputs. The programme deliberately targeted women and youth groups and was aligned with his inclusive governance philosophy. At the flag-off, Aliyu emphasised that the initiative would “enhance agricultural output during the 2024 dry season and boost irrigation activities.” He linked it to concurrent infrastructure projects like the completion of the 450-hectare Kware Irrigation Scheme, ongoing work on the Wurno Irrigation Scheme, and the award of a contract for Lugu Dam rehabilitation to restore water storage capacity. In mid-2024, over 40 women farmers received solar-powered irrigation pumps, grain stocks, and N500,000 cash grants each for dry season cultivation. He scaled this up in March 2025 by distributing 1,000 irrigation pumps to youths and women across 91 rural communities. This was in addition to 23 multipurpose threshers, 3,000 tomato grinding machines, and 58 rice threshers.
However, following an impact review of the programme, Governor Aliyu changed gear and refined his approach. In February 2026, he flagged off the sale of highly subsidised fertiliser for dry season farming at Wurno Local Government Area. To achieve this, he procured 52 trucks of Urea and 50 trucks of NPK, amounting to 102 trucks in total, at ₦3 billion. Each LGA in the state received two trucks of Urea and one truck of NPK. While urea was subsidised by 62% and sold at ₦19,000 per bag, NPK was subsidised by 60% at ₦18,000 per bag. This was a deliberate shift from earlier free distributions.
Governor Aliyu had explained that the cost was introduced because the initial free fertiliser programmes suffered from diversion by middlemen. The new subsidised model, supervised by appointed LGA coordinators and committees, ensured transparency and direct access for genuine farmers. At the same event, he announced a ₦22.125 billion contract for 250 units of MF-375 Massey Ferguson tractors to drive full mechanisation. This programme, coming just months into the 2025/2026 dry season, underscored the governor’s adaptability. The ₦3 billion investment for fertiliser alone, alongside the tractor procurement, reflected unprecedented fiscal commitment to agriculture in the Northwest.
Meanwhile, fertiliser distribution formed only one pillar of the vision. Irrigation is another. Governor Aliyu’s initiatives here have also been transformative. The completed Kware Scheme of about 450 hectares now supports dry-season cultivation of high-value crops. The rehabilitation of Lugu Dam and ongoing Wurno works are also expected to expand irrigable land significantly, while partnerships with the Federal Government’s Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project will integrate solar power along the Sokoto-Rima River and reduce reliance on diesel pumps and promote climate resilience. Aliyu’s administration has also developed 5,000 acres of land for commercial farming of onions, millet, and garlic, with exports already reaching Ghana and the Benin Republic. The 7,000-hectare Moringa agroforestry project, created to combat desertification, will also add nutritional and economic value to the state. These interventions have created a virtuous cycle ensuring reliable water, affordable fertiliser, mechanisation and processing, which expectedly translates to higher yields, reduced post-harvest losses, and increased incomes.
Other News
Governor Aliyu’s approach exemplifies servant-leadership. He has consistently visited farming communities, listened to farmers, and adjusted policies exemplified by scaling back from free fertiliser to subsidised distribution when diversion threatened impact. His emphasis on women and youth has empowered marginalised groups and fostered rural stability while reducing urban migration. His partnerships with the World Bank, Federal CARES, National Fadama Coordination Office, and international donors have amplified state resources without debt accumulation.
And, the results are evident. Dry season farming has expanded, contributing to food availability and price stability in Sokoto state. Commercial farming and exports have boosted internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state, while mechanisation and irrigation have positioned Sokoto to become a major supplier of wheat, rice, and vegetables during Nigeria’s traditional lean season. With these, Governor Aliyu demonstrates that governance can be both responsive and transformative.
While other Northwest governors have supported agriculture, none match the scale, continuity, and integration of Aliyu’s efforts since 2023. Other northwest states have participated in federal fertiliser and seed programmes, including the National Agricultural Growth Scheme for wheat during dry seasons. However, these are often one-off or federally driven. Some of the states have farmer complaints about input transparency rather than state-led innovation. In contrast, Sokoto’s state-funded programmes, including free distribution in 2024, ₦3 billion subsidised programme in 2026, massive irrigation rehabilitation, and ₦22 billion tractor procurement, demonstrate ownership and ambition.
Aliyu’s integration of fertiliser support with dam rehabilitation, solar irrigation, mechanisation, and commercial farming creates a comprehensive ecosystem unmatched in the region. His administration’s focus on dry season farming addresses the Northwest’s specific vulnerabilities, like short rainy season, desertification, and insecurity, more holistically. Independent assessments, including those from agricultural economists, describe Sokoto’s model as one of the most comprehensive in northern Nigeria, as it blends input subsidies, infrastructure revival, and value addition. His leadership in this regard has been pragmatic, farmer-centred, and visionary.
It has made Sokoto’s intervention the most impactful in the Northwest because while many Northwest governors relied on federal programmes or limited subsidies, Aliyu’s administration invested state resources directly, combining input support with irrigation revival and post-harvest processing to create a complete value chain.
As Nigeria grapples with population growth and climate challenges, other governors would do well to emulate this model. Governor Aliyu has shown that with political will, strategic investment, and direct engagement, dry season farming can transform not just one state but an entire region’s food security landscape. Sokoto is no longer merely surviving the dry season; under his leadership, it is thriving and leading the way. That demonstrates proactive leadership.
