Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

February 6, 2015

Bauchi

The Chairman, Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU),
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital branch, Mr Babangida Bingis, has apologised to Nigerians over the three-month strike embarked upon by the union.
Bingis offered the apology when he spoke with newsmen in Bauchi recently.
He said that the union had directed the suspension of the action, adding that members of the union had since resumed work as directed.
“We apologise for the inconvenience the action might have caused and hope that all our issues will be addressed,” he said.

Gombe

President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to generate
power from Dadin-Kowa Dam in Yamaltu/Deba local government area of Gombe state, in addition to assisting farmers, if re-elected.
Jonathan made the pledge when he visited the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar, in his palace in Gombe.
“We are looking at Dadin-Kowa Dam for provision of steady power supply to Gombe State, in addition to assisting farmers in the state,’’ he said.
He said Federal Government’s commitment to farmers in the state could be seen from the provision of fertiliser and other inputs directly to them through the e-wallet system.
Jonathan urged youths in the state to key in to the commercial farming system.
“I also re-assure you that this government will continue to work with the people of Gombe state on how we can continue to move our country forward and move the state forward,’’ he said.
He said that they were at the Emir’s palace to seek for royal blessing and prayers before embarking on their re-election campaign rally in the state.

Kano

The Progressives Youth Wing of the People’s Demo
cratic Movement (PDM) in Kano State has called on the electorate to vote for APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, during the February 14 election.
The chairman of the group, Alhaji Ghali Abdallah, made the call while briefing newsmen in Kano.
He said the group had resolved to support Buhari to enable him bring the desired change in the country.
“’Buhari possesses all the qualities required from a leader as he was tested and trusted,’’ he said.
He, however, urged people to vote for PDM’s gubernatorial candidate, Bashir Ishaq, during the February 28 elections.
“Ishaq is the best among the candidates contesting for the governorship position in view of his good leadership qualities.

Lagos

The police have arraigned a 43-year-old woman, Hajiya
Safiya Yakubu at the Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly receiving stolen wrappers worth N3 million.
The accused, a resident of No. 1, Poultry Road, New Layout, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna, is standing trial on a charge of receiving stolen property.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Mohammed Garba told the court that one Sanusi Mohammed, of Shop 57, Garki Ultra Modern Market, reported a case of theft of wrappers from his shop by one Amina Ali of Masaka, Nasarawa State on January 21.
Garba said that police investigation in the matter revealed that the accused bought the wrappers from Amina.
According to him, in the course of interrogation, seven pieces of Hollandais wrappers were recovered from the accused person.

Nasarawa

National Coordinator, “Goodluck Jonathan Fulani Sup
port Group” has said Alhaji Hussaini Muhammad, said that Fulani herdsmen would give Jonathan 70 per cent of their votes in the February election.
Muhammad stated this at the interactive session with newsmen at the sideline of the PDP governorship campaign in Kokona local government area of Nasarawa state.
He said that the Fulanis were the highest beneficiary of the Jonathan administration and would reciprocate the goodwill by voting massively for his re-election bid.
Muhammad said that the Fulanis had never had it so good since the return of democratic governance.

Niger

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial
candidate in Niger State, Alhaji Umaru Nasko, has urged youths across the country to shun violence during and after the February elections.
He made the call when he received a Grand Peace Ambassador award by the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) in Minna.
He said youths should not be seen as inexperienced people, rather, they should be given the opportunity to participate in all facets of governance.
He added that, “I accept this Grand Peace award with all sense of humility, responsibility and I pledge not to let Nigerian youths down.
“Today, I stand to advocate that youths should not be seen as inexperienced people, they should be given the opportunity to participate in government activities to gain the needed experience.

Ogun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has prom
ised to declare public holiday to enable the people collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Amosun made the promise at Ajebo ward 11 in Obafemi/Owode local government area of the state during his re-election campaign rally.
“We can’t just declare holiday when the cards are not ready; we are doing everything to sensitise our people on the importance of the cards,” Amosun said.
The governor promised to commence work on the OGTV- Kajola – Obafe- Ajebo road if re-elected.
He commended the former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who constructed the road during his tenure.

Oyo

The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odugade,
has stressed the need for Ibadan indigenes in Oyo State to promote the tradition, culture and heritage of Ibadan land.
He made the remark in Ibadan at a press briefing to unveil the logo of Oke’Badan festival.
Represented by high Chief Eddie Oyewole, the Ekerin Olubadan, the monarch declared that recognising the culture and tradition of Ibadan land does not translate to paganism.
He said that the Oke’Badan festival, celebrated annually serve as reminder of the historical antecedents of Ibadan people.
According to him, the festival also serves as ‘social melting pot’ where divergent issues affecting the lives of the people are discussed.

Plateau

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
says it will sponsor additional 200 victims of violent conflicts in Plateau to acquire vocational skills, under its Livelihood Support Scheme.
UNDP’s Conflict Prevention and Peace Building Analyst Mr Mathew Alao, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Jos.
Alao said that the organisation had just sponsored 149 victims in the state to acquire training in seven vocational skill areas.
The areas the skill covered were on hair dressing, tailoring, knitting, catering and decorations as well as GSM repair, shoe-making, leather works and computer studies.
The official said that the scheme was being supported financially by the government of Norway.

Yobe

Over 30 families who fled Boko Haram attacks in Borno,
Adamawa and Yobe State without contact for several months have reunited at a HIV/AIDS screening centre in Nguru, Yobe State.
Spokesman of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Malam Ibrahim Dankanawa, disclosed this to newsmen in Nguru recently.
Our correspondent reports that the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) organised a one-week HIV/AIDS screening exercise for the IDPs to ascertain their HIV status and curb spread of the virus.
“The families fled Baga in Borno, Mubi in Adamawa and Buni-Yadi in Yobe, and we lost contact for several months but this screening center has reunited us,” Dankanawa said.

Nation

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

Published

1 week 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.