Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

March 1, 2013

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government said last Wednesday that it would provide 40,000 doses of Misoprostol tablets and Chlorhexidine tubes in all the primary health centres in the state.

The Executive Chairman of the state’s Primary Health Development Agency (BSPHDCA), made this known in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.

He said that this would reduce maternal and infant mortality rate in the state.

According to him, research findings have confirmed that bleeding after child birth is a major cause of maternal mortality in pregnant women, while infant deaths are mostly caused by infections through their cords.

Benue

A 26-year-old man, Mohammed Sani, was last Wednesday convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment by a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court for theft of motorcycle.

The Magistrate, Franca Yuwa, invoked Section 157(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to convict Sani for theft punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code.

The police prosecutor, Mike Eweh, told the court that one Johnson Imeh, of Nyiman Makurdi, reported the case.

He said that the complainant had reported that he parked his motorcycle in front of his house but was later stolen.

FCT

The Deputy Director, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), last Wednesday urged the corps members in Kuje, FCT, to comply with electoral laws during the Area Council Election.

She made this call in an interview with newsmen at an awareness campaign on elections for corps members in Kuje.

Iloebe said the exercise was to sensitise the NYSC Corps members on the dangers of violating electoral laws during the forth-coming Area Council election on the March 16.

“The awareness is a clarion call for the corps members to contribute their quota towards national development through free and fair elections.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government last Wednesday announced the establishment of a new state university.

The Commissioner for Information, Youths and Sports, Alhaji Babandi Ibrahim, made this known when he briefed newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting in Dutse.

He said that the new university would be situated in Kafin-Hausa town, Kafin-Hausa Local Government area of the state.

Ibrahim said that the School of Remedial Studies established in 2011 and sited in that area, would be part of the programmes that would be run in the university.

Kano

The Kano State Government says it will rehabilitate 35 out of the existing 198 kilometres of shelter belt in the state this year.

Acting Coordinator, Kano State Afforestation Project, Alhaji Musa Shu’aibu, told newsmen last Wednesday in Kano that the government earmarked certain amount of money in this year’s budget for the project.

He said that rehabilitation of the shelter belt was part of efforts being made by the government to control desert encroachment.

“A similar project was carried out last year in which the government expended N15 million on the rehabilitation of 50 kilometres of shelter belt in four local government areas of the state,’’ he said.

Kogi

The Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada, last Wednesday approved the appointment of Prince Ndakwo Ameh Oboni as the new Attah Igala.

This is contained in a statement issued in Lokoja by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy.

The statement said that the appointment of Oboni followed due process and was in accordance with Igala tradition and native laws guiding succession to the throne.

It added that the appointment was with immediate effect.

The Kwara State House of Assembly on Wednesday approved the removal of the Chairman, Governing Council of the Kwara State College of Education, IIorin, Alhaji Musa Yeketi. This resolution followed the report of its joint Committee on Education and Ethics, Privileges and Judiciary on the facts surrounding the suspension of the chairman.

Lagos

A 24-year-old woman, Maria Nwanche, has pleaded with an Agege Customary Court, Lagos, to dissolve her seven-year-old marriage over battery and threat to life.

The petitioner, who lives at 27, Market Road, Agege, told the court that her marriage broke down when she realised that her husband, Emmanuel Nwanche, had “faked’’ love for her.

“My seven years has been hell living with this man. He has made life unbearable for me, if I continue with Emmanuel; he might end up taking my life.

“My husband beats me at every slight argument, he does not respect my feelings, he took me for granted because he married me when I was still in secondary school.

Niger

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Minna had said it is being owed N8.6 billion by consumers in Minna and its environs.

The Business Manager, Minna Business Unit, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Minna.

Garba said that the PHCN had commenced the authentication of all bills owed by each consumer so as to remove over estimation and over billing to enable them pay their electricity bills.

Oyo

The police in Ibadan last Wednesday arraigned two men, Muyideen Nurudeen and Akeem Salami, before an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly snatching bag containing valuable items.

The Prosecutor, Mrs Olookoba Bola, told the court that the accused persons snatched a bag belonging to one Seriki Folake.

The bag allegedly contained N15, 000 cash, Starcom OTS valued at N3, 500, a cell Phone valued at N6, 000, a driving licence and a GTbank ATM card.

The prosecutor said that the accused also stole a Nokia 305 valued at N13, 000 belonging to one Ekunseyitan Victoria.

Plateau

The Chief Medical Director of Jos University Teaching Hospital, has challenged patients to promptly report any “unprofessional conduct’’ by medical personnel to the hospital authorities.

“I have always said it and will always repeat it. We have a SERVICOM unit ready to listen to complaints from patients that have not been well served. It is your right to be served. It is not a privilege. So, report any abuse by medical doctors or any other personnel here.

“Sometimes, some of them can complain, but when you ask them to tell you the defaulting medical doctor, they will tell you they do not want any one to lose his job. This is bad and certainly not helpful,’’ he said.

While noting that Nigeria’s law allowed its medical doctors, like their counterparts worldwide, to own private medical outfits, added that such laws also regulated the practice.

Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Wednesday called for inter-agency collaboration to reduce poverty and unemployment in the country.

Abubakar III, specifically advocated the synergy between the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), to further combat poverty.

“Not that I am calling for their scrapping or merger rather they should work hand-in-glove as they have similar mandates.

“They should have an efficient inter-link among themselves. They all have the same aims of engaging more Nigerians meaningfully.

Nation

HYPREP Marks 15 Years Of UNEP Report, Highlights Major Cleanup Milestones

Published

4 days ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.

In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.

The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.

According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.

Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.

In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.

The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.

Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

2 months ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) says it has strengthened collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to enhance quality control and enforcement frameworks.

Mr Oisereime Lloyd-Dietake, the Head of Communications, REAN, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the collaboration would also involve stakeholder engagement on testing, certification and capacity building in Nigeria.

He said the synergy would strengthen quality control and enforcement frameworks, promote policy alignment, and ensure stronger regulation across the renewable energy value chain.

“REAN reaffirms its commitment to standardisation and quality assurance; tighter collaboration with SON is critical to eliminating fake and substandard renewable energy products from the Nigerian market.

“Enforcement and gaps in existing standards have continued to allow inferior products to circulate, undermining consumer confidence and slowing sector growth.”

Lloyd-Dietake said that at high-level discussions, REAN also highlighted the need for stronger regulatory coordination to address emerging challenges in the renewable energy space.

According to him, the issues include inconsistencies in standards, affordability issues linked to certification processes; and the increasing presence of substandard solar and renewable energy equipment in the country.

“The association further raised concerns about delays in product testing and approval, calling for the establishment of more testing laboratories and certification facilities to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the system,’’ he said.

Lloyd-Dietake urged closer collaboration among key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Rural Electrification Agency.

He said such team work would ensure harmonised standards and more effective enforcement against fake renewable energy products in the Nigerian market.

In response, SON acknowledged the important role REAN continued to play in supporting standardisation within Nigeria’s renewable energy industry and reaffirmed its willingness to deepen collaboration with the association.

SON further confirmed that REAN would be actively involved in future standard review processes and upcoming stakeholder engagements related to renewable energy and electric mobility standards development.

Lloyd-Dietake said REAN affirmed its willingness to formalise the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He said the MoU is aimed at deepening cooperation, promoting quality assurance, and accelerating Nigeria’s transition towards reliable and standardised renewable energy solutions.

Nation

Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

Published

2 months ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, implemented by Self Help Africa, has expanded access to safe water and sanitation services for more than 320,000 people in Kano and Cross River States.

The organisation disclosed this on Tuesday at the WS4H National Results and Learning Workshop in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed achievements and lessons from the intervention.

Speaking at the event, Self Help Africa Country Director, Joy Aderele, said the programme demonstrated that sustainable WASH improvements require strong institutions, effective governance, adequate financing and collaboration.

Aderele said the UK-funded programme was designed to strengthen systems that support sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

According to her, the intervention focused on improving governance, planning, financing, accountability and sector coordination to ensure resilient service delivery.

“More than 320,000 people now have improved or restored access to water services through programme-supported interventions,” she said.

She added that more than 5,520 household toilets were constructed in Yala and Makoda Local Government Areas, boosting sanitation, public health and efforts to end open defecation.

Aderele said the programme also strengthened public investment in WASH, with Cross River increasing its sector budget by 211 per cent in 2026 and Kano by 169.07 per cent.

She added that dedicated WASH budget lines had been established across 40 Ministries, Departments and Agencies in both states, strengthening accountability and institutional commitment.

According to her, both states reviewed and adopted updated WASH policies, while key planning documents were developed to guide future investments and service delivery.

She said Cross River also recorded a major legislative milestone through the passage of the Water Law and Open Defecation Prohibition Bill.

Aderele added that lessons from interventions in Yala LGA were already informing expansion efforts in Obubra Local Government Area.

While commending the achievements, she noted that capacity gaps, resource constraints and climate-related pressures remained challenges to sustainable WASH services.

“The sustainability of these gains will depend on continued government leadership, adequate financing, strong partnerships and investment in institutional capacity,” she said.

Also speaking, the Programme Manager of WS4H, Mr Timothy Ibeawuchi, said the intervention focused on strengthening systems needed to sustain gains and attract future investments.

According to him, the programme engages stakeholders in developing strategies that preserve achievements and support long-term service delivery.

“System strengthening work takes time because it addresses the fundamental issues responsible for sustainable and resilient service delivery,” he said.

Ibeawuchi said the programme strengthened policy development, planning, financing, monitoring and evaluation systems across the WASH sector.

He said two pilot local government areas were supported to develop WASH strategic plans outlining sector goals, targets and activities between 2026 and 2030.

According to him, the plans will guide future interventions and improve service delivery in the affected councils.

Earlier, the representative of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Chidera Chukwu, reaffirmed support for Nigeria’s development efforts in spite of the programme nearing completion.

Chukwu commended the Self Help Africa-led consortium for delivering the programme with professionalism and a strong focus on systems strengthening.

He said the consortium contributed greatly to strengthening Nigeria’s WASH sector through policy reforms, improved coordination and enhanced accountability.

“Together, we have advanced key policy and legislative reforms, including open defecation-free laws and strengthened state WASH frameworks,” he said.

According to him, the reforms represent enduring system-level changes that will continue delivering benefits beyond the programme’s lifespan.

In his remarks, Mr Jamilu Habu, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, commended the programme’s achievements.

Habu, who represented the Permanent Secretary, said the intervention strengthened governance, coordination, evidence-based planning and institutional capacity in the WASH sector.

He described the workshop as an opportunity to review achievements, share lessons and identify pathways for sustaining and scaling successful interventions.

According to him, the programme’s innovations and best practices will guide future policies and investments aimed at expanding access to safe WASH services.

Habu stressed the need for continued collaboration among governments, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities.

He said stronger partnerships remained essential to achieving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services and meeting Sustainable Development Goal 6.