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Woman who cut off stepson’s private organ remanded

From Abubakar Haruna, Minna

A 17-year old married woman who allegedly cut off her 23-day-old stepson’s private organ in Dafe village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger state has been remanded in prison custody.

The Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the Niger State Police Command DSP Bala Elkana, told Daily Trust yesterday that Bara’atu Muhammad who had been arraigned in Magistrate Court 1, Minna, had been remanded in Minna prison.

Elkana said the police would spare no effort to get justice for the baby.

By her own confession, Bara’atu Muhammad cut off her stepson’s penis out of jealousy. She said that she used knife to carry out the act in their toilet after she took him by force when he was playing in the house.

She was arrested and handed over to the police.

Her husband Muhammad Dauda said that he was shocked when he heard what his wife did to his son. “I asked myself, ‘How could Bara’atu that was mentally sound carry out this heinous crime’,” he said.

Little Buhari is on admission at the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna.

?IDPs influx may raise HIV prevalence- official

From Kabiru R. Anwar,Yola

The influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) may raise the level of HIV prevalence in Adamawa State, health officials have said.

The Program Officer of the Adamawa State Action Committee on AIDS, Dr. Chubado Abubakar told journalists after a meeting with visiting officials from the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) and some civil society organisations in Yola that although data collected in recent years showed reduction in HIV prevalence, the current influx of IDPs may likely raise the level of infection in the state.

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The Yola event, Integrated Supportive Supervisory Meeting, ýwas attended by representatives of six CSOs, four line ministries and health institutions.

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Abubakar also expressed the worry that interaction between Adamawa residents and their counterparts in neighbouring Taraaba State which had the highest HIV prevalence in the country might also affect the HIV status of Adamawa State.ý

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In her remark, the ýNACA Assistant Partnership Chief, Ekeh Doris, said her team was in the state to provide technical assistance to the state agency as well as other partners with a view to improving performance.

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Doris called on government at all levels to do more to mobilise funds for fighting the HIV/AIDS scourge, adding that World Bank funding would end in 2017.

Also speaking, the Project Manager of the Adamawa State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (ADSACA), Dr Chubado Abubakar and Prof. Anna Malgwi, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of Miya Mother Association, one of the NGOs involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the state, lauded the series of NACA intervention in monitoring the programme in Adamawa State.

Wike alleges plot to destabilise the State.

From Victor Edozie, Port Harcourt.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has spoken of ‘a grand conspiracy’ to to pull down the state.

The Governor who spoke when the leaders of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) visited him at the Government House, Port Harcourt said those plotting against the state will fail as he will confront them with the People’s Mandate.

He said that those who are working against the interest of Rivers State in the name of politics, must remember that Rivers State is critical to the development of the nation.

He noted that he will always work for the unity and progress of the country as a patriot, despite the distractions.

He said: “There is a grand conspiracy against Rivers State. But I don’t know in whose interest. I believe in the unity of this country, therefore I will continue to work for its development and security “.

He added that very deliberate steps have been taken to undermine the security of the state, pointing out that the Headquarters of the security agencies intervene to release deadly suspects arrested by operatives on ground.

Earlier, the Chairman of PETAN, Engr Bank-Anthony Okoroafor called on the governor to further create the required enabling environment for investors to flourish in the state.

Indigenous firms to produce soil-specified fertiliser

From Maryam Ahmadu-Suka, Kaduna

Some indigenous companies: Superphosphate Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Indorama and TAK have collaborated to roll out soil specified fertilizer brands for Nigerian soilsý as part of efforts to boost agricultural produce and ensure food security in Nigeria.

Four brands of soils specific fertilizers for the various soil topographies in Nigeria have been identified by the collaborating companies.

Speaking to newsmen on a facility tour of their plants in Kaduna yesterday, Chairman of the Superphosphate Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Birma said the collaboration of the companies was informed by the need to break away from imported fertilizers, most of which are not suitable for Nigeria’s soils.

He said, “The distribution of the products had since started in the southern parts of the country, which experienced early rainfall, while that of the middle-belt and north have equally commenced just recently and with 4million metric tons production capacity per annum, the companies will meet the country’s annual fertilizer demand.”

Speaking on the significance of the collaboration to food security, the Managing Director of Superphosphate Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, Mr. Danjuma Abdul-Kadir, said that, unlike the imported fertilizers, which he described as stereotype fertilizers and not meant for Nigeria’s soils, the products of the collaborating companies were made in line with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s specifications.

He added, “The collaboration came as a result of research and development and a lot of scientific works done by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. They came up with the type of fertilizers to be used in Nigeria and we took up the challenge to produce them.

Niger Assembly approves N14.16b budget support facility

From Abubakar Haruna, Minna

The Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has been granted approval by the Niger State House of Assembly to secure N14.16 billion as part of the federal government budget support facility.

The approval was granted sequel to the request made by the governor through a letter read on the floor by the Speaker, Hon Ahmed Marafa during plenary.

The Speaker told the legislators that the executive was in receipt of an offer from the federal government to participate in the Budget Support Facility to provide financial support to the state to enable it navigate the present economic challenges and meet its obligations to staff, pensioners and other stakeholders.

“At a special session of the Niger state executive council held on June 13, 2016, this offer was considered and it was resolved that the state government participate. Consequently an application shall be made for an amount in the summary of N14.16 billion for this purpose,” he told the House, reading from a letter he received from the governor.