News Investigators/ The Managing Director of BUA Cement, Yusuf Binji, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to restoring the livelihoods of farmers displaced by its operations in Sokoto State.
Mr Binji gave the assurance on Saturday in Sokoto during the inauguration of the distribution of assorted farm inputs to 211 farmers from the company’s host communities.
Represented by the Assistant Director, Administration and Corporate Affairs, Malam Sada Suleiman, the managing director said the company invested about N108 million to procure the farm inputs.
He said the initiative was designed to empower resettled communities through modern farming techniques, business development support, agricultural inputs, and working tools to improve their standard of living.
“This initiative, under the BUA Resettlement Sustainable Livelihood Restoration Programme, covers training, business development, distribution of farm inputs, and working tools, among other interventions.
“It is aimed at improving the livelihoods of members of our host communities through sustainable empowerment programmes,” he said.
Also speaking, the company’s Director of Health, Safety, Community, and Environment, Mr Ali Gumel, said the intervention was part of BUA Cement’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to its host communities.
He said the company would continue to implement programmes to support people displaced by its operations across various locations.
According to him, the intervention included the provision of alternative farmlands, training on modern agricultural practices, distribution of improved farm inputs, skills acquisition, and business development opportunities.
Gumel urged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the inputs and assured them of continuous technical support and training by the Sokoto State Agricultural Development Programme (SADP) to ensure proper utilisation.
The Programme Manager of SADP, Alhaji Abubakar Danmaliki, said extension workers would provide regular advisory services to guide farmers on the effective use of the inputs.
He noted that the intervention would help beneficiaries recover from the effects of displacement while boosting agricultural productivity and food production in the state.
On his part, the company’s Social Performance Specialist, Alhaji Rabiu Maska, said the distributed items included NPK and urea fertilisers, liquid fertiliser, improved seeds of maize, sorghum, cowpea, and groundnut, as well as pesticides and herbicides.
A cross section of beneficiaries commended BUA Cement for the timely support and pledged to use the inputs productively to improve their farming activities and livelihoods.
NAN
