Bauchi

The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) has commenced investigations into the activities of a HIV positive herbalist allegedly spreading the virus to his female clients.

The harbalist had been sentenced to 24 years imprisonment by a Bauchi Shari’ah Court for allegedly spreading the virus.

Dr Rilwanu Muhammad, the Executive Secretary of the agency, told newsmen in Bauchi on Friday that the agency was disturbed by the development.

Sheikh Aliyu Sa’idu, a commissioner in the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission, alleged that the convict, Magaji Ali, had been spreading HIV by luring his female clients into sex as part of the love potion to make their husbands love them.

The Islamic scholar alleged that “the herbalist not only sleeps with them, but also collects N5,000 as service charge and possibly infects them before delivering the love potion”.

He made the allegation in a lecture organised by the Islamic Health Students Association of Nigeria, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Gombe branch.

FCT

Nigeria’s achievements in the health sector would be showcased during the forthcoming meeting of World Health Assembly, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, the Minister of Health, has said.

The Minister was speaking to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja at a briefing on the forthcoming assembly scheduled for Geneva, Switzerland from May 17 to May 21

“The meeting is an opportunity for us to showcase what we have achieved in the health sector since the last meeting.

“It will also allow the World Health Organisation (WHO) to understand the peculiar problems of some countries and to also decide how those countries could be helped,” he said.

He said that Nigeria had made a lot of achievements in eradicating guinea worm.

“We have continued to sustain the zero reporting of guinea worm. In the past fifteen months, Nigeria has not recorded a single case of guinea worm,” he said.

On polio, Chukwu said that the country has recorded only three cases this year.

“Since the beginning of this year, we have not recorded more than three cases of polio. The recent one was recorded last week.

“If you compare that with the 360 cases recorded between January and May last year, you will know that this is something encouraging,” he said.

The Minister, who said that a report on Nigeria’s performance in the health sector would be issued during the assembly, said that some protocols and resolutions would be adopted at the meeting.

 Jigawa

The Jigawa Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Muktari Birniwa, says the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) established in Maigatari Local Government Area of the state is fully operational.

Birniwa, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen  on Wednesday in Dutse, said the state government had renovated all dilapidated buildings around the site.

He said that access roads, electricity, water and communications facilities were provided in the zone for effective and efficient commercial activities in the area.

The commissioner stated that two major firms were presently operating in the EPPS, including the state owned Tricycle Assembly Plant and Gum Arabic Company which were meant to export finished products to other parts of the world.

“Some American investors had visited the zone and did feasibility studies and indicated their interest to invest in the area,” he said.

Biennia stated that some companies had requested the government to establish immigration office in the area, to regulate and check the influx of people who would be doing business in the zone.

Kebbi

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has approved the release of N91.7 million for the Kebbi Community-Based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme (CBARDP). 

Dr. Usman Shehu, the Programme Manager, Kebbi Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, disclosed this in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.

The statement said the fund would be utilised to build the capacity of rural communities for the period April 2010 to March 2013.

It said the three tiers of government and benefitting communities would contribute counterpart fund totalling N506 million.

“The approval was sequel to the mid-term review meeting between IFAD and the CBARDP officials on impact of the programme.

“The review indicated that the programmme had impacted positively on the social, economic and environmental aspects as it had improved the livelihoods and living conditions of the targeted communities”, it stated.

Kaduna

Farmers in Zaria and its environs have expressed concern over the delay in fertiliser distribution for the 2010 farming season.

Investigations revealed that farmers in the area had already started clearing their farmlands in readiness for planting.

 A farmer, Alhaji Aliyu Africana, noted that the commodity usually arrived when farmers had already resorted to other alternatives.

  “Most of us do not wait for the official fertiliser rather, we procure the commodity at the black market for use as at and when due.

  “Nevertheless, I want to appeal to the state government to expedite action toward ensuring the availability of the commodity in good time”, Africana said.

  Another farmer, Mahmud Alfa, noted that the delay was a source of worry not only to  farmers but also to the society at large, as it might lead to poor yield.

He urged the state government to distribute the commodity to encourage farmers.

Niger

One person died in a communal clash over farmland between Gbasua and Ndafu communities in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger on Wednesday, witnesses said.

Ten other persons suffered injuries in the clash, while a house was burnt and agricultural products destroyed, witnesses told newsmen in Minna.

Sources say that the dispute over the land began some years ago when a member of one of the communities allegedly encroached on the land leading to a protest from members of the other community.

Ondo

A driver attached to Mr Kole Bolodeoku, a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, committed suicide on Thursday.

The lifeless body of the driver, who was simply identified as Dayo, was found hanging in his room at Fanibi layout, Akure.

A source said that the deceased was hail and hearty the previous day and had planned to drive his boss to the House on Thursday for a mourning session in honour of late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Efforts to speak with Bolodeoku, who represents Ese-Odo  constituency, proved abortive as he appeared too confused to talk.

Other residents in the area also wore mournful looks and refused to speak on the development.

Mr Adeniran Aremu, the state Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed receiving a report of the the incident, said that  investigation had commenced.

“It is true that Honourable Bolodeoku’s driver hanged himself early this morning and the command has swung into action to unravel the circumstance surrounding the death of the driver,’’ he said.

Oyo

 The Oyo State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Oyedemi Muslim, on Thursday in Ibadan warned residents against  unauthorised cutting of  roads.

Muslim gave the warning while briefing newsmen on activities to mark the third anniversary of  Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala’s government.

The commissioner also said anybody caught dumping refuse on the roads would be prosecuted.

He said government would no longer tolerate the blockage of  drains with refuse.

Muslim further warned those washing vehicles on roads to desist forthwith as they would be arrested and prosecuted.

Other offences, according to the commissioner, include road side trading and hawking, illegal construction on road set backs and dumping of  construction materials on roads.

He said those who illegally park or abandon  their faulty vehicles on the roads would not be spared.

Plateau

As part of its peace-building efforts, the Military Special Task Force maintaining security in Plateau has commenced the provision of free medical services and water supply to communities in Jos.

 The areas benefitting include Tudun Wada, Dogon Dutse, Dutse Uku, Rikkos and Angwan Rukuba areas.

It was gathered that no fewer than 500 patients are being treated daily in these areas by the Medical Corps of the 3 Armoured Division Hospital of the Nigerian Army, Jos.

 Similarly, the Nigerian Army water tankers supply water in these areas which had suffered acute water scarcity for years.

 Residents of these areas were seen trooping out to take advantage of these services, while people from other parts of the city also come, especially, for medical services.

 Speaking to newsmen, on Friday, in Jos, the Commander of the hospital,  Maj. Folarin Orolugbagbe, said the exercise was in the spirit of  “civil-military cooperation”.