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Deputy Governor Martins Babale of Adamawa State (right) inaugurating the UNHCR Relief  Office in Yola recently. with him is the Assistant High Commissioner on  Refugees of UNHCR,Mr Volker Turk.

Deputy Governor Martins Babale of Adamawa State (right) inaugurating the UNHCR Relief Office in Yola recently. with him is the Assistant High Commissioner on Refugees of UNHCR,Mr Volker Turk.

Bauchi
The Director, Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control in Bauchi
state, Dr Yakubu Abdullahi, has advised parents to immunise new born babies with Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine to prevent Tuberculosis (TB).
Abdullahi gave the advice in an interview with newsmen  in Bauchi.
He said the diagnosis of tuberculosis in under- five children was often difficult due to the specimen collected from them.
He said that children could be diagnosed with the two various types of tuberculosis, which includes exposing the child to infected person and poor ventilation.
Other causes of the disease are overcrowding, malnutrition, immunity status, prolonged use of steroids and Cytotoxic drugs.

Gombe
The Gombe State Police Command has urged residents
of the state to be security conscious and prayerful during and after the Easter celebration.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mohammed Padah, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Gombe on Thursday.
He said that the command had put measures in place to ensure protection of lives and properties of the citizenry.
“There is need for everybody to be security conscious while going about their normal businesses.
“ Adequate security has been put in place in conjunction with other security agencies in the state to ensure peace and security,’’ he said.

Kaduna
Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State has pledged
to offer quality service to the people irrespective of historical, ethnic or religious orientation.
El-Rufai made the pledge in Kafanchan, shortly after the endorsement of a peace declaration by 29 communities in five local government areas of the state.
The Kafanchan Peace Declaration was at the instance of Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD).
“We recognize everyone as a citizen of Kaduna State and in accessing social services, have no regard for his or her historical, ethnic and religious orientation.
“ We as a government are pursuing an investment strategy anchored on our conviction that the private sector is the engine of job creation and growth.

Katsina
The member representing Katsina South Senatorial Zone,
Sen. Abu Ibrahim has commenced skill acquisition training for 1, 775 persons from the zone.
Speaking at Malumfashi Training Centre the scheme focal person, Malam Babanyara Mailikelike, said beneficiaries comprised men and women across all ages from the 11 local governments that made up the zone.
The focal person said that between 150 and 180 beneficiaries were selected from political wards in each of the 11 local government areas.
Mailikelike said beneficiaries were trained on production of soap, perfume and cream, livestock and poultry keeping, food and animal feeds processing as well as interior decoration.

Jigawa
The Jigawa Government has constituted an 11-member
committee to verify construction of township roads and payment of compensation to those whose structures would be affected by the projects.
Malam Isama’I Ibrahim, the Public Relations Officer, Office of Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said this on Thursday while speaking with newsmen in Dutse.
Isama’I said that the SSG, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir, who inaugurated the committee, urged members to discharge their duties with the “fear of God’’.
The spokesperson said that aside from identifying the number of structures to be affected and pay compensation, the committee would also verify the authentic persons involved.
According to him, the committee will cost the compensation payments, and if possible, review the compensation rate.
Lagos
A 59-year-old businessman, Mr Joseph Olatunde, has
filed for divorce at an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State over his wife’s alleged shameful act.
Joseph, in his application, is seeking for the dissolution of his marriage to his wife, Kemi Olatunde , whom he said had gained a reputation as a street-fighter.
“My wife, who is a pastor, an evangelist, a church interpreter and women leader, fought with nine persons in a day in our street wearing only a bra and a tight.
“She fought from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., during which residents of the street were begging her to stop but she refused.
“ I also pleaded with her but she cursed and I was ashamed of myself.
“I had to take her pictures with my cell phone when she was fighting in the public with only the brassier covering her body and sent it to her family.” he said.

Nasarawa

A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, Nasarawa
State, has ordered the remand of a student, Joseph Olowo, charged with trespass and attempted theft.
Olowo, 24, who resides at Mararaba, is facing a two-count charge of trespassing on private property and attempt to commit offence of stealing.
The judge, Mr Albert Maga, ordered the remand of the defendant following an oral application made by the prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji.
Maga ordered that the defendant be remanded in police custody till April 5 when his bail application would be considered.
Adaji had objected to the bail on the grounds that the defendant was not a first time offender and had a pending case of theft to which he was admitted to bail on March 11.
Earlier, the prosecutor had told the court that Ameh Emmanuel of Behind Kapda Market, Mararaba, reported the case at the ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, on March 18.
Ogun

More than 2,500 residents of Ogun have benefitted from
the free health initiative organised by the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari.
Our correspondent reports that the initiative included checking of Body Mass Index, screening of the eye and blood sugar level as well as distribution of free eye glasses and drugs.
The programme, which was meant to cater for 2,500 persons, saw more than 5,000 in attendance.
Speaking at the flagging off ceremony, Buhari said the programme was to cater for the health of young and old Nigerians.
The wife of the President, who was represented by Dr Abdulrahaman Kamal, said she had also organised similar initiatives targeted at women and children, particularly those hinterlands.
Ondo
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)
says its members will work with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to obey the new safety idea.
Mr Folajimi Akinifesi, the Chairman of NURTW in Ondo state, told newsmen on Thursday in Akure that FRSC officials had briefed them on the safety device.
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia, says: “A speed limiter is a governor used to limit the top speed of a vehicle.’’
Akinifesi said: “Our members will comply with the speed limiter because it is a safety precaution to reduce frequent road mishaps.
“Most of the accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving and careless overtaking.

Osun
The Osun House of Assembly said it was determined to
outlaw street trading and illegal markets in the state.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Najeem Salaam, said this at plenary in Osogbo during the consideration of a bill on street trading and illegal markets.
Salaam said it would become an offence for any person to engage in street trading or to operate an illegal market in the state once the bill was passed into law.
He said the law would ensure a clean environment, adding that this was one of the cardinal aims of the government.
Salaam, who noted that street trading had claimed many lives on the highways, added that the bill, when passed, would check this.
Sokoto

Head of the committee, Malam Lawal Maidoki said in
Sokoto that the gesture was to reduce burden on the poor and enhance their wellbeing.
He said, “the gesture is part of the monthly allocation being given by the state government to assist the less privileged among our society, to ease their suffering and ensure healthy and productive citizens.’’
The chairman explained that part of the money was used for the medication and rehabilitation of some mentally deranged persons.
Zamfara
An Islamic organisation, the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah
Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), says  it has spent more than N100 million on developing its Islamic Centre in Guzape District, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sheikh Yusuf Rigachikun, the Deputy Chairman, National Ulama’u Council of JIBWIS, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Gusau.
Rigachikun said the N300 million worth project started last year when the organisation signed the project contract agreement with an indigenous construction company, Coxa Integrated Limited (CIL).
He explained that the centre was aimed at providing a befitting facility for Muslims in the FCT and the country at large for knowledge acquisition and other religious activities.

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

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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

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REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

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

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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.
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