Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

January 7, 2015

Bauchi

Most Reverend Samuel Abidoye, Chairman and
Spiritual Head, Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (CSMC) Worldwide, has called on Nigerians to seek God’s intervention to curb insurgency in the country.
Abidoye’s call is contained in a New Year massage made available to newsmen in Bauchi.
He emphasised that Nigerians should embrace love as well as seek God’s intervention towards surmounting the current security challenges and other socio-economic problems confronting the country.
Abidoye observed that Nigeria was suffering from lack of love and harmony among her people.
He opined that the dearth of love among Nigerians had given birth to distrust, intolerance, hatred and unwarranted violence among the citizens of this country.

Benue

No fewer than 1,000 delegates are expected at the
annual Conference of National Directorate of Religious Education for Catholic Dioceses of Nigeria scheduled to hold in Makurdi between January 12, 16.
The conference will be hosted by the Abuja Ecclesiastical Province which comprises the dioceses of Makurdi, Otukpo, Idah, Lokoja ,Lafia, Gboko, Katsin-Ala and the Arch Diocese of Abuja.
The Provincial Chairman of the conference, Rev Godwin Agberagba, disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi.
Agberagba said the conference, which would review the religious education Curriculum in schools owned by the church, would take place at the Pope John Paul Pastoral Centre, Makurdi.
He said the review would set the stage for effecting changes in catholic school programmes in the country.

Jigawa

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State says the
Federal Government is owing the state government more than N17 billion.
Lamido disclosed this while addressing supporters at the PDP governorship campaign rally in Hadejia.
He said that the amount was accrued in respect of various federal government projects executed by the state government.
Lamido explained that the delay in the reimbursement of the money was hindering “completion of viable projects initiated by his administration.
“The Federal Government is owing Jigawa government over N17 billion.
“I demand payment of the money to facilitate completion of the ongoing projects or else it will linger to the next dispensation,” he said.

Kano

The death has occurred of the renowned Second
Republic politician in Kano State, Alhaji Ammani Inuwa.
Inuwa died in the early hours of Monday at his residence in Fagge Quarters at the age of 78, after a protracted illness.
The announcement of his death was made by his eldest son, Alhaji Animu Ammani, in Kano on Monday.
He said his father just returned from a medical trip abroad and that he had taken a similar trip to Saudi Arabia in recent times.
Late Inuwa started his political journey during the days of the Northern Elements Progressives Union (NEPU) and later the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP).
The late political icon became popular at the peak of the present political dispensation which made one of the most popular names in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
During the tenure of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after realising that he and his supporters were no longer relevant in the APC.

Kebbi

The National Union of Local Government Employees
(NULGE) in Kebbi State has urged the state government to hasten the payment of outstanding leave grants to local members.
The state Chairman of the union, Alhaji Bello Barade, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
Barade said that the government is owing members two years outstanding leave grants.
“We were not paid the 2013 and 2014 leave grants and even in 2012 we were paid half of the amount,’’ he said.
According to him, the state government workers had been paid their leave grants while local government employees had not been paid.
The chairman said that the members would not relent on their agitation until they were settled.

Kwara

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
in Kwara State, Dr Yunus Lawal, has warned politicians to eschew bitterness for the success of the 2015 general elections.
Lawal, who is also the Chairman, Governing Council of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, made the remark during an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
The chieftain, who is a veterinary doctor, noted that no meaningful development could be achieved in an atmosphere of rancour, acrimony or hatred.
He, therefore, urged politicians to give peace a chance before, during and after the polls.
Lawal also advised politicians and their followers to shun destructive tendencies and other acts capable of truncating democracy in the country.

Nasarawa

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in
Nasarawa State said that it would embark on house-to-house and neighbour-to-neighbour campaign for success in this year’s general elections.
Mr Umbugadu Sunday, the party’s Coordinator, Neighbour-to-Neighbour Campaign organisation, said this in Akun while addressing supporters of the party in Akun development area of the state.
He said that the strategy would enable the party to win all seats in the upcoming election in the state.
He called on the people of the state to vote only leaders of unquestionable character in the country.

Plateau

A peace forum convened by the National Orientation
Agency (NOA) in Jos has urged warring Fulani and Maughavul youths in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State to embrace peace.
Our correspondent reports that law and order broke down in the council following the discovery of a headless body believed to be that of a Maughavul indigene.
This had pitched Maughavul youths against their Fulani neighbours who they accused of being behind the incident.
But at a stakeholders meeting convened by NOA, leaders of both ethnic groups in attendance sued for peace.
The NOA Director, Mr Bulus Dabit, who read the resolution of the forum, said that the leaders had decided to embrace dialogue in resolving the issue.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government security outfit, “Sokoto
Marshals Corps’’, said it had prosecuted more than 100 motorcyclists for violating traffic rules in Sokoto city and its environs in the last two months.
The Commandant of the outfit, ACP Sa’idu Madawaki, disclosed this at a news conference in Sokoto when he reviewed the outfit’s activities since it took off in November 2014.
He said the accused motorcyclists were prosecuted and convicted to various jail terms, adding that most of them were arrested for violating traffic lights, routes violation and related offences.
He noted that “some of them were also arrested for assaulting our personnel operating along the various roundabouts and inter- sections in the city.’’

Taraba

The Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi
Kifasi, has urged people of Taraba State to vote for credible and tested candidates that would introduce change and ensure development in the state.
He made the call in Jalingo at a breakfast organised in his honour by Global Achievers Group for Jonathan 2015.
The head of service told his audience that what Taraba and indeed Nigeria urgently needed were credible and tested candidates,saying people should not mind the ethnic or religious backgrounds of candidates but what they could offer.
He said what Taraba and Nigeria urgently required was development in terms of basic amenities and infrastructure.

L-R: Sen. Oluremi Tinubu; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, wife of former Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Jakande and Chairman, Premier Lotto Ltd, Chief Keshington Adebutu, at the 2,600 days in office of Governor Babatunde Fashola, recently

Nation

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

Published

17 hours 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

1 month 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

1 month 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.