News
USAID and OCP Forge Partnership to Revolutionize African Agriculture
In a landmark move for African agricultural advancement, USAID and OCP Group, the world leader in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilizers, have partnered to tackle critical barriers hindering Africa’s agricultural potential.
During a visit to University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Ms. Samantha Power – USAID Administrator – signed a collaborative agreement to pursue two sustainable and innovative initiatives designed to enhance agricultural efficiency and productivity across the continent:
• The Space to Place Project will gather accurate local soil and climate data which will provide the basis for a “Decision Support Tool” to guide farmers on the optimal use of fertilizers. These fertilizers will be customized to precisely meet the nutrient requirements of their land and crops, to simultaneously improve soil health and boost productivity sustainably.
• The Rock Phosphate Amendment Project will evaluate the impact on crop yields and soil fertility of the application of phosphate rock and innovative nutrient formulas based on it. This Project will develop a “Phosphate Rock Decisions Support System” to help farmers identify the soils and crops that will most benefit from this approach.
The agreement, set to span at least four years, includes plans to engage other stakeholders and partners to take forward these groundbreaking initiatives and to encourage the adoption of the new tools by farmers across the continent.
During her visit, Ms. Power observed ongoing research at the University and engaged with local cooperative representatives, gaining insights into their experiences and the transformative potential of these projects. She commented: “OCP Group is an important partner as we grapple with a very significant global food crisis. The agreement will use geospatial technology to provide farmers on the ground with recommendations on how to more efficiently use fertilizers. It harnesses data to provide real world predictions and solutions to improve yields.”
Mr. Mostafa Terrab, Chairman and CEO of OCP Group, said: “At OCP Group, we are delighted to deepen our partnership with USAID, collaborating closely on these cuttingedge projects to help unleash the potential of African farmers to feed not only Africa but the world, in ways that aim to enhance soil health, the environment and the climate.”
The collaboration announced consists of joining forces between USAID’s Space to Place initiative and OCP Africa’s integrated Soil Health and Customization approach to benefit millions of African farmers and enhance the continent’s food security. In this regard, OCP Group, through OCP Africa, will invest $30 million to support efficient fertilizer use across sub-Saharan Africa, complementing USAID’s $40 million investment to expand Space to Place, announced at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi on May 7. This brings the total investment envelope to $100 million for this initiative, which directly supports the continental Action Plan that was adopted by the Nairobi Summit.
This establishes a basis for extended dialogue and cooperation between these two major contributors to African agricultural development, enhancing the impact and efficiency of their work to deliver measurable development outcomes across Africa.
About USAID
USAID is an independent Federal Government Agency responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance, with its main offices located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20523, United States of America. On behalf of the American people, USAID promotes and demonstrates democratic values abroad and advances a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. In support of America’s foreign policy, USAID leads the U.S. government’s international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance. USAID finances development activities in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Eurasia. USAID leads Feed the Future, the United States government’s initiative to address global hunger, bringing partners together to address the root causes of hunger and poverty by boosting agriculture- led growth, resilience and nutrition in countries with great need and opportunity for development. Working in countries that are committed to improving their own food security and nutrition around the world, including in Sub-Saharan Africa, Feed the Future helps partner countries: improve agricultural production and markets and create new opportunities; strengthen the resilience of communities to shocks; reduce hunger and improve nutrition, especially among mothers and children; and increase the exchange of ideas, technologies and products that benefit citizens at home and communities abroad.
For more information: www.usaid.gov
About OCP Group
OCP Group helps feed a growing global population by providing it with the essential elements for soil fertility and plant growth. With over a century of expertise and a turnover of more than USD 9 billion in 2023, OCP is the world leader in plant nutrition solutions and phosphate-based fertilizers. Headquartered in Morocco and present on five continents, OCP has approximately 20,000 employees and works closely with over 350 customers around the world. OCP recently launched a green investment strategy, dedicated to increasing fertilizer production and investing in renewable energy. The strategy foresees an overall investment of approximately USD 13 billion over the period 2023-2027, which will enable the Group to use 100% non-conventional water in 2024 (to ensure its complete autonomy, including a water desalination capacity of 560 million m3 per year by 2026), 100% clean energy by 2027 and to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2040 (Scopes 1 and 2 by 2030, and Scope 3 by 2040), while increasing the production of green fertilizers. The Group is firmly convinced that leadership and profitability are synonymous with social responsibility and sustainable development. Its strategic vision sits at the junction of these two dimensions.
News
“No Injustice Was Done Against Ex-Minister Turaki By the Police Regarding DNA Test Result, Woman Tells Court
A woman, Hadiza Baffa, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that tno Injustice was done against Kabiru Turaki, former minister, special duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, in obtaining a DNA Test result to determine the paternity of her child.
She said by her knowledge, all that transpired in the Police Headquarters was with every sense of humility against the parties involved.
Hadiza told Justice Inyang Ekwo in her affidavit to show cause filed by her lawyer, Sani Idris, on why the reliefs sought in Turaki’s motion ex-parte should not be granted.
Turaki, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/244/2025, dated Feb 11, but filed on Feb 13, had sued the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Inspector-General (I-G) of Police; DCP Rita Oki Oyintare, who is Deputy Commissioner of Police for Gender and Hadiza Musa Baffa as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.
He sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from presenting, using, or relying on the purported DNA paternity test result procured from the DNA Labs Limited or any other DNA laboratory on Nov. 5, 2024, or any other date thereafter.
Hadiza, in her counter-affidavit alleged that the ex-minister “maliciously filed the suit when it came to his knowledge that the DNA Test forms part of the evidence at the Magistrate Court and knowing the result shows that 99.9% the applicant is the biological father of the baby.”
“ That contrary to the denial of the Applicant having illicit sexual intercourse with me and also denying being a biological father of our daughter, the Applicant volunteered his swab in the daylight not night, and the Applicant the next day equally took the swab of our daughter by his medical doctor in the presence of his lawyers at Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and some days after reached out to me that he had confirmed the DNA and asked me for settlement;
“ That his lawyers on the 9th Day of January, 2025 asked me to come to Police Force Intelligence Department (FID) to collect their proposed terms of settlement;
“That after collecting the proposed terms of settlement it was stated therein that the Applicant will take custody of the daughter in order to grow up and bond with his children which he refers to as her siblings, and also offered to give me access to our daughter, and I refused the Applicant’s proposed terms,” Hadiza said.
She said the purported restraining order Turaki mentioned in his originating summon was obtained ex-parte by fraud and misrepresentation to restrain the 1st to 3rd respondents from accepting any complaint, and same was vacated by the presiding Upper Area Court Judge.
According to her, contrary to the allegation of the applicant the order was made after I had made my complaint and my statement was already obtained by the Nigerian Police.
“The applicant knows full well that it is only the DNA Test that will exonerate me or him if at all what I am saying about the pregnancy is not that of the applicant and the paternity issue.
“That by my knowledge, all that transpired in the Police Headquarters was done with all sense of humility against the parties involved,” Hadiza said.
She said Turaki had been arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse at Zone 2 in Abuja.
“That it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the applicant’s application,” she prayed
Giving a 13-ground argument why his application should be granted, Turaki said he instituted an action against Hadiza (4th respondent) vide suit No CV/35/2024 on June 24, 2024.
The ex-minister alleged that on Nov. 5, 2024, he was invited by DCP Oyintare and he honoured the invitation.
He further alleged that upon honouring the invitation, Oyintare insisted that she must take a swab from him to conduct a DNA to prove the paternity of Hadiza’s daughter.
He said though he protested, he was detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department’s cell at Area 10, Garki, Abuja for about 6 hours from 12 noon till 6pm, and at about 9pm, his “swab sample was collected by a purported scientist at the behest of the 3rd respondent,” before he was allowed to go home at about 10pm on that day..
He further said unless the court promptly intervened, the respondents would rely on the said purported DNA test paternity result, the validity or otherwise being the subject matter of the instant suit.
Justice Ekwo had, on Feb. 18, ordered the former minister to put all the respondents on notice when the motion was moved by his lawyer, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, SAN.
The judge directed the respondents to show cause in the next adjourned date why the prayers sought by the ex-minister should not be granted.
Meanwhile, Hadiza, in her affidavit to show cause, told the court that granting Turaki’s application would prejudice her and would cause her and her child an irreparable damages.
The police, in their counter affidavit, also urged the court to dismiss the ex-minister’s request.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 24 for hearing.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III on Friday confirmed
the sighting of new moon and urged all Muslim ummah in Nigerian to commence fasting from Saturday 1st March, 2025.
Speaking in his palace in Sokoto, Sultan noted that, the new Moon of Ramadan, 1446AH was sighted in various places as confirmed by both the state and national Moon Sighting Committee.
According to him, they have accepted the position of the committees hence admonishing Muslims to commence fasting accordingly from Saturday 1st March, 2025 being the first day of Ramadan 1446AH.
The Sultan who appealed for understanding, tolerance and love among Nigerians also admonished the Muslim ummah to seek the face of Almighty Allah in the fasting period.
He therefore use the opportunity to implore Muslim Ummah to devote themselves fully to Ibadat throughout the Holy Month, and also implore them to show love and understanding to all irrespective of religion, tribe or political affiliations.
Sultan further urged Muslims to pray fervently for the blessings of Allah for leaders in Nigeria to succeed in steering the affairs of the country, as well as sustenance of peace and and peaceful coexistence.
And to Nigerians, Sultan said, “I want to implore all of you to continue to pray for peace and stability of the country”.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
Worried by the indefinite strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) Sokoto State University chapter, the state government has concluded that it was a politically motivated action.
Addressing newsmen at the Government House, Sokoto, the state commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Isa Muhammad Maishanu expressed concerns that the management of Sokoto State University (SSU) should rather show some degree of appreciation to the governor Ahmed Aliyu led who have intervened in most of their challanges.
According to Prof. Maishanu, SSU had suffered neglect from previous administration thus leaving the state Ivory tower in a deplorable condition without electricity, dilapidated lecture rooms, and offices which rendered the institution unpalatable.
Continuing, Prof Maishanu said, despite not giving any document regarding assets and liabilities of SSU by the immediate past governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal led government, the present administration of Ahmed Aliyu has restored cash allocation to the institution, payment of the stopped visiting lecturers salaries all in his pursuit of better education for he people of the state.
While stressing that the reasons giving for embarking on the strike by SSU ASUU which include, “Non- implementation of the 25% and 35% salary increase for both non academic and academic staff,
non payment of the check off dues, implementation of 25%-35% increase and the EAA, are issues that could be easily addressed as the governor has constituted committee to look into the complaint after it was presented, Prof. Maishanu appealed to the striking SSU ASUU to give peace a chance.
He added that the committee set up by governor Ahmed Aliyu had “obtained templates and relevant circulars and making frantic consultations with relevant agencies including the Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment on the said matter’.