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Borno

The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has pre
sented about N30 million cash support to parents of the abducted Government Secondary   School (GSS) Chibok students in Borno.
Buhari, represented by the wife of the Borno governor Hajiya Nana Shettima, presented the cash to the parents at a ceremony in Maiduguri.
She explained that the gesture was aimed at assisting the parents with some financial support towards alleviating their sufferings.
Buhari pointed out that the presentation was in fulfillment of her promise to assist the less privileged and victims of insurgency in the North East.
“Today’s presentation was in fulfillment of the promise I made earlier in the year during my book launch in Abuja.
“I made a promise that the proceeds will be used to better the lives of women and victims of insurgency in the North East,” she said.

FCT

Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China have signed
a bilateral agreement of over eight million China’s Yuan (about 400 million naira) for various projects in the FCT.
The projects were feasibility studies of the second phase of the Abuja Solar Powered Traffic Control Signal, Agricultural Demonstration Centre and the 2016 Bilateral Training Programmes.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr James Akpandem, Media Adviser to Minister of Budget and National Planning  Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, in Abuja.
“The agreement was signed at the sixth session of the Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation Joint Commission meeting in Abuja.
“The agreement is a prelude to Chinese government’s full involvement in the projects once they are certified feasible.
“The project will be funded through gratis assistance as part of the 2012 Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the two governments,” the statement said.

Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State says it will deploy 1,500 personnel to ensure hitch-free sallah celebration in the state.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Malam Muhammad Durumin-Iya, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Durumin-Iya said the officers would be deployed to Dutse, the state capital and other major towns across the state.
He explained that the gesture was to provide adequate security during and after Sallah celebrations across the state.
“As part of plans to ensure hitch-free event, and adequate security, during and after Sallah in Jigawa, we will also deploy about 150 special force, which comprises of Special Armed Squad and Counter Terrorism Squad”, he said.

Kaduna

A mobile court has convicted 49 drivers for violation of
road traffic regulations during a special patrol in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area, Kaduna State, by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
FRSC Legal Officer, Kaduna Sector Command, Mr Ibrahim Tanko, told newsmen that the offenders were convicted by mobile court after their arrest.
The official said that eight of the offenders were convicted for light sign violation, seven for driving with worn out tyres or without spare tyre and four for vehicle licence violation.
Eight others he said were convicted for drivers’ license violation, five for fire extinguisher violation, nine for seat belt violation, three for over-loading and one for number plate violation.
He added that four others were convicted for obstructing marshal on duty, operating vehicle with forged document, caution sign violation and vehicle windshield violation respectively.

Kwara

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Kwara State, says it has deployed 2,500 personnel across the state to ensure protection of lives and property during the Eid-al-fitr celebration.
The Kwara Commandant of the corps, Mr Pedro Ideba, disclosed this in llorin during an interview with newsmen.
He said that the personnel had already been deployed in all the 16 local government areas of the state to ensure a hitch free Sallah celebration.
The commandant said that the corps was collaborating with other security operatives in the state to achieve this.
Ideba said that personnel had been dispatched to all the Eid praying grounds and other sensitive locations in the state to provide adequate security.
The commandant warned residents of the state against taking laws into their hands, adding that any person or group of peoples who constitute security threat would be dealt with.

Lagos

Group Managing Director, Lagos State Water Corpora
tion, Mr Muminu Badmus, said its officials would be visiting residents to verify their complaints toward boosting service delivery.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Rasaq Anifowoshe of the corporation‘s Public Affairs Division.
According to him, the visit is designed to help the corporation improve water services to every home in the state.
‘’Lagos Water Corporation is planning to visit Water Customers for effective Service delivery.
‘’The exercise will start from Surulere Area of the state on July 7, and will be extended to other parts of Lagos metropolis”, he said.

Nasarawa

Nasarawa State Police command says it has deployed
over 2,000 officers to various strategic places in the state in order to ensure a hitch-free Eid-el-Fitr.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Lawal Shehu, told newsmen in Lafia that appropriate measures were being taken to forestall any breakdown of law and order during the festivity.
He said officers had been placed on surveillance patrol of identified flash points of violence and criminality across the state.
“Hoodlums usually take advantage of festive periods to perpetrate crimes but we are ready for them this time,” he said.
Shehu called on members of the public, especially Muslim faithful, to cooperate with the police to safeguard lives and property.

Ogun

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, says the intro
duction of single currency by West African states would promote economic integration and progress within the region.
Obasanjo said this while playing host to the President, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Commission, Mr Marcel de Souza, at his hilltop estate, Abeokuta.
The former president said it was high time the organisation started using single currency, adding that it would help boost the economy of all members of ECOWAS.
“We have decided that our unit of currency will be ‘eco’, let us now start using eco, let eco become our unit of currency.
“Single currency unit for ECOWAS states will bring about more development and growth among the states”, he said.

Oyo

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has
handed over completed school projects worth 1.3 Japanese Yen (N2 billion) to the Oyo State Government.
JICA handed over the projects to the state government at a ceremony held at St. Luke’s Demonstration School, Molete, Ibadan.
The Chief Representative in the Nigeria office of JICA, Mr Hirotaka Nakamura, said that the sum was expended on 231 classrooms, two staff rooms and 218 toilet booths spread across 30 schools in the state.
Our correspondent  reports that the classroom blocks were furnished with desks, chairs and blackboards.
“The completion of this project brings the total number of classrooms constructed in the education sector in Nigeria to 1, 038 classrooms and 999 toilet booths since December 2014 till date”, he said.

Sokoto

Sokoto State Government has purchased 9,000 metric
tonnes of fertiliser and 16,000 water pumps worth about N 1.7 billion to be distributed to farmers in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Alhaji Umaru Nagwari made the disclosure in Sokoto in an interview with newsmen.
According to Nagwari, the assorted fertiliser and water pumps will be distributed to both dry and rainy season farmers across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Nagwari said that the fertiliser, which comprised of Urea and NPK brands, were bought at about N8, 000 per bag but would be sold to the farmers at 75 per cent subsidy.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state executive council had approved the purchase of Faro rice seedlings worth about N392 million for distribution  to the farmers free of charge.

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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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