Onuminya Innocent, Sokoto*
BUA Cement Company has donated farm inputs worth N108 million to 211 farmers in resettled host communities across Sokoto State.
The intervention targets rural farmers displaced by the company’s expansion and aims to restore livelihoods ahead of peak wet season planting.
The handover ceremony took place at BUA’s premises in Sokoto and was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, and the beneficiaries whose farmlands and homes were impacted by the industrial development.
For the displaced households, the donation represents the benevolence gesture of the company.
Many also said it offers a practical route to reclaim productivity and stabilize family income after losing access to ancestral farms.
Presenting the items, Ali Gumel, Director of Health, Community Safety and Environment at BUA Group, said the company remains committed to corporate social responsibility that meets the immediate needs of vulnerable populations. He noted that agriculture is central to Sokoto’s economy and rural stability.
“We understand the pain of losing a farm and starting over. These inputs are not charity, they are an investment in the resilience of our people,” Gumel stated.
He assured that BUA will sustain collaboration with state agencies to keep resettled communities within development plans.
Gumel disclosed that the inputs include improved seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, and small-scale farming tools. Company agronomists selected the materials to match soil characteristics and rainfall patterns in Sokoto’s northern and central zones.
Receiving the items on behalf of the state government and beneficiaries, Abubakar Dan Maliki, Program Manager of the Sokoto Agricultural Development Projects, described the timing as critical. He said farmers are currently sourcing materials for land preparation and early planting.
“This support will reduce the cost burden on resettled farmers and help them regain productivity quickly. The state government will ensure equitable distribution through our extension agents at the community level,” Dan Maliki assured.
Community leaders at the event expressed gratitude, noting that access to quality inputs has been a major challenge since displacement. They pledged to use the materials judiciously and share best practices with other vulnerable farmers in the settlements.
Some beneficiaries said restoring farm capacity is vital to preventing food insecurity among displaced populations. With rains intensifying across the state, they added, timely input support can make the difference between a lost season and food sufficiency.
As beneficiaries loaded the inputs for transport to their new settlements, the mood was one of cautious optimism. For 211 households adjusting to new land, BUA’s N108 million intervention represents more than fertilizer and tools — it is a renewed opportunity to rebuild from the soil up.
