Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

December 23, 2009

Ondo

The maiden Mare Festival has been won by a 10-year-old boy, Sunday Akinwunmi, in the rocky town of Idare, Ondo State, for climbing 2,000 feed of steep mountain surface with bare hands and feet while professional mountaineers were using ropes and other gadgets.
For this efforts, which the state Governor Olusegun Mimiko, said typified the traits of gallantry and coverage of the average Ondo State youth, the lad was awarded a state-sponsored scholarship upto the university level.
Hundreds of local and international tourists, as well as the local population of Idanre, a town completely surrounded by towering rocky walls, participated in the three-day event.
Packaged as an avenue to make the town a global destination for tourists by the state government in collaboration with mother land Beckons, a tourism consultancy firm, the festival also exhibited the customs and traditions of the people through a carnival of dancing and drumming.

Kaduna

The Guardian correspondent in Kaduna State, Saxne Akhaine has reputedly received a threat to this life via phone number 08132283200.
The text message which was received at exactly 8.46pm, reads: “if you write rubbish again in this Kaduna you will be missing for ever.”
When Akhaine put a call to the phone number someone who referred to himself as driver to Director-General, Media and Publicity to the Kaduna State Governor, Uma Sani, said: “Yes, my oga (boss) is not around now, he left his phone in the car. But I will deliver your message and he will call you back.”
Not satisfied with this response, Akhaine called Sani on his official phone number to protest the text message.

Ekiti

Ekiti State Government has terminated the contract for the reconstruction of River Ele Bridge at Itapaji Ekiti over the failure of the contractor to commence work on the project.
The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Taiwo Olatunbosun, who made this known at the weekend, said the contract was awarded to Messers Kopek Construction Limited since October 2008, adding that the failure of the firm to commence work on the project left the state government with no alternative but to terminate the contract.
He said the Segun Oni-led administration would not deviate from its policy of transparency, accountability and due process towards ensuring that public funds are judiciously spent. He said the contract would soon be re-awarded to another contractor.
The Information Commissioner also disclosed that the government has blacklisted a construction company, Jobitrade Investment Limited, over its handling of the rehabilitation of the Teaching Hospital Theatre building in Ado-Ekiti in 2008.

Makurdi

To tackle the rot in the education sector in Benue State, the stakeholders have advised that all public schools, which were taken over by the State government, be returned to their original owners.
At a press conference during the weekend after the stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Makurdi, the Commissioner for Education, Mr Benjamin Ashaver, said that the leaders, realising the rot in the education sector, have resolved that it is in the best interest of the state that the schools be returned to their owners.
He said: “The general consensus at the stakeholders’ meeting is that the schools be returned to their owners. However, the government will continue to grant aid to these schools to build up the education base of the state.”
According to him, the state government will send a bill to the House of Assembly on the resolution of the stakeholders so that a legal framework could be established for the return of the schools to their origional owners in the interest of the state.

Ogun

The Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, at the weekend appealed to all residents of Ijebu-Ife who fled the town during the December 5 mayhem to return home as peace had returned to the town.
Oba Adetona assured that adequate security arrangement has been put in place to protect lives and property.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Ijebu-East Local Council, Tunde Oladunjoye, may appear before the judicial panel of enquiries set up to investigate the circumstances that led to the crisis. He had earlier expressed his lack of confidence in the three members.
The Awujale, who spoke through the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, described the incident as not only unfortunate but an embarrassment to the Yoruba race.

Lagos

Petroleum products marketers across the country appear to have finally gone ahead of the Federal Government to commence a full blown deregulation of the downstream sector as price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol has gone to an all time high of N150.00 a litre, even as some major oil marketers have also started a strategic sale of petrol at black market prices right inside their station.
Black market price appears to have shot astronomically high as investigation reveals that a litre of fuel in the black market now sells for as high as N450.00, with over 75 per cent of the petrol stations on the Lagos Ibadan Expressway shut to travelLers and other road users as they claim not to have any product.

FCT

The Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyeli has said that everything is being done to ensure that Anambra governorship election in February 2010 is hitch free.
The minister who gave the assurance at the News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) forum in Abuja said “we need to come together and vote and let our votes be counted, so that we will be happy at the end for who ever emerges as the peoples choice. Until that happens, Anambra will continue to be in the news negatively.”
She said further, “Once we have a free and credible election, select somebody of our choice, feel very happy about our leader in Anambra State, even kidnapping will go down.

Ondo

Akure Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State weekend gave scholarship award till university level to a 10-year old boy, Sunday Akinwumu for his skill in climbing over 2,000 feet with his bare hands and feet.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the year’s Mare Festival, the governor said the boy was identified and rewarded as he climbed a 2,000 feet mountain with bare hands and feet while the professionals used ropes and other equipment. He pledged to harness all the potentials of the state to fast track its development.
Dr Mimiko said the festival was about the economic development of the people of the state. According to him, “the idea behind the festival, which featured mountain climbing, was to attract local and foreign tourists to the state.

Plateau

Governor Jonah Tang of Plateau State is banking on the quick recovery of President Umar Yar-Adua or a favourable outcome of the suit challenging the dissolution of the executive of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, by the national working committee, NWC, of the party to regain control of its machinery in the state.
The Tide gathered that following the resolution of the NWC to get the governor to work with the Chief Abu King Shuluwa-led Caretaker Committee it set up for the state, a position Jang is uncomfortable with.
It was learnt that a recent meeting between Jang and members of the NWC held a day to the recent National Executive Committee meeting of the party ended in a deadlock as the governor reportedly vowed not to work with the Caretaker Committee.

Kwara

Chairman, Governors’ Forum in Nigeria, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has lamented the persisting fuel scarcity across the country, attributing the hardship to the uncertainty trailing the proposed deregulation policy of the federal government.
In effect Saraki who is also the Kwara State governor, tasked the government and other stakeholders, particularly labour to come up with the way forward. He said the sooner this is done, the earlier the current fuel crisis would come to an end.
Speaking with newsmen in Ilorin on the state of the nation to mark his 47th birthday, Governor Saraki said: “For now, it is like somebody who is in the middle of the stream, he has departed the shore and did not reach the destination, so during that period, definitely, you will see a lot of challenges.”

Bauchi

About 3,000 applicants turned up in the current senior cadre recruitment into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Bauchi State.
This was disclosed by the State Commandant of NSCDC, Haruna Shehu of the 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi, venue of the recruitment exercise, saying 615 candidates were short listed in the senior cadre in the state.
Shehu said, of the over 11,000 who put in their application in the junior cadre, 4,840 were shot-listed.
According to him, only those short-listed were eligible to participate in the recruitment exercise, adding that the exercise, in the state was smooth and hitch-free.
He commended security agencies such as the army, FRSC and the state government who assisted to ensure that the exercise was smooth.

Oyo

Fuel scarcity which resurfaced last week in Ibadan has continued unabated as motorists and residents in the city spend endless hours at few filling stations that dispensed the products. Already, some independent marketers in some parts of the city have adjusted their pump price from the official N65 to N70 per litre.
But The Tide investigations revealed that all of them now sell at N100 per litre. Outlets visited by our reporter include Sabo, Mokola, Samgo, Bodija U.I. Ring Road, Elerele Iyagnaku, Total Garden and others.
The major marketers that sold the products at the official pump price of N65 collected extra charges from customers. The money they collected ranges from N200-N500 depending on the litres of fuel brought. When asked why they sold at such exorbitant prices, most of them who cared to answer said they bought above the official pump price at the depot where they lifted the fuel.
The Tide gathered that many filling stations in the city were shut. Though they claimed that they had run out of supply, investigation revealed that they preferred to sell either early in the morning between 6am and 7am or late in the evenings.
The refusal of the filling station to dispense the products has led to emergence of black market operators along Major roads in the city who now sell a four-litre keg for N600 and above. It was learnt that these illegal sellers of the products usually go to the filling stations at mid-night to buy the product.
Already, the scarcity of the product has taken its toll on the vehicular and human movement in the sprawling city.
Few vehicles now ply the roads, while the commercial drivers have capitalised on the scarcity to hike their fares.

Nation

HYPREP Probes Overhead Tank Collapse …Plans To Supply Water In 65 Ogoni Communities

Published

2 days ago

November 10, 2025

The Tide

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has taken prompt steps to unravel the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the overhead tank of the Gwara Water Station recently commissioned by the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
This is even as the Project has restated its determination and commitment to supplying quality potable water to 65 Ogoni communities before the end of the year.

HYPREP said while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt that it has commenced an investigation into the collapse of the overhead tank at the Gwara Water Station in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The high-level committee set up by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey as an interim measure, is mandated to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

The Vice Chairman of the committee, Barrister Gowon Ichibor while addressing newsmen said the committee has already swung into action, as it has visited the site of the incident to take stock and assess the situation.

Barrister Ichibor noted that the committee is firmly on top of the situation, as it is poised to carry out a painstaking investigation to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the unfortunate incident.

He further indicated that it is hasty and premature at this point, to pinpoint what might have caused the incident but promised to furnish the public with all necessary information in connection with the overhead tank collapse as soon as possible.

While assuring affected communities of HYPREP’s determination to restore the water facility as quickly as possible, he said the committee would tidy up its work in less than no time and promptly brief the press on its findings.

The committee did not, however, foreclose the possibility of recommending appropriate punitive measures and sanctions to be meted out to culprits at the end of its assignment, to prevent future occurrences.

Meanwhile, HYPREP’s Head of Communications, Dr Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, who also lent his voice, described the incident as a temporary setback, as the Project would take appropriate and prompt actions to restore potable water supply to the affected Ogoni communities.

He also reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to upholding global best practices, standards and quality in the execution of projects, and sympathised with the affected communities over the unfortunate incident, saying, 16 water facilities have already been commissioned, which are effectively and satisfactorily serving over 40 Ogoni communities.

With the collapse of the overhead tank of the Gwara Water Station, he revealed that 40 Ogoni communities are currently enjoying potable water.

The head of communications further disclosed plans by HYPREP to provide potable water to 65 Ogoni communities before the end of the year.

While regretting the unfortunate incident, Dr Mba-Nwigoh urged Ogoni people and residents of Gwara community to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, and eschew all forms of speculations and rumour-mongering, as the Project is on top of its game to remedy the situation.

He reeled out the achievements and milestones so far recorded by HYPREP, saying, the Ogoni cleanup programme is very much on course.

It would be recalled that HYPREP had earlier in a statement said it was deeply disturbed by the collapse of the overhead tank at Gwara Water Station, stressing that the
Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, had set up a high-level committee to determine the immediate and remote
causes of the incident.

It further noted that the committee had already visited the site and begun a detailed investigation to establish whether the collapse resulted from structural failure or possible third-party interference.

HYPREP, in a statement signed by its management, expressed concern over the incident and sympathised with the Gwara community, urging residents to remain calm as efforts are being made to restore the damaged facility and resume water supply to affected areas.

The Project assured that it remains committed to delivering quality projects that meet international standards, adding that internal and external quality control measures have been introduced, including the engagement of EcoProject as Project Consultant, supervision by the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, and oversight by water supervisors.

It noted that aside from this isolated case, 16 water stations have been commissioned across Ogoniland, providing water to over 40 communities, with some facilities operating successfully for more than two years.

The Project added that sustainability plans have been put in place to ensure continuous water supply to communities. These include the formation of Water Consumers Associations (WCA), construction of solar farms for alternative power, and training of laboratory staff.
It also stated that one of the key features of the HYPREP water projects is the establishment of laboratories to ensure that water supplied to communities meets the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.

HYPREP reaffirmed its commitment to quality service delivery and assured that all necessary steps are being taken to address the situation and prevent future occurrences.

The Project has also set up a technical sub-committee over the collapse of the overhead tank of the Gwara Water Station, to foster and promote accountability in the implementation of projects.

Nation

Tinubu Committed To Environmental Sustainability, Benefits To Ogoni–Minister

Published

2 days ago

November 10, 2025

The Tide

As the Ogoni cleanup programme being implemented by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) continues to record significant milestones across thematic areas, the Federal Government says such gestures further demonstrate President Bola Tinubu’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to environmental sustainability and ensuring the Project brings benefits to Ogoni people.

The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, who made this assertion during the commissioning of the Bane and Gwara water schemes in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, in line with HYPREP’s mandate to provide potable water to Ogoniland, said the provision of potable water is a critical step towards improving public health, reducing waterborne diseases and enhancing the overall quality of life.

The latest commissioning brings the water stations to 16, providing access to potable water to 45 Ogoni communities , a development the Minister explains as part of President Tinubu’s commitment to peace ,environmental justice and socio-economic empowerment in Ogoniland, a beacon of hope for communities long affected by environmental degradation.

Lawal noted that the latest commissioning is restoring hope and dignity to the communities long deprived of this essential resource .

”The provision of potable water is a critical step towards improving public health, reducing waterborne diseases and enhancing the overall quality of life. It also signifies a renewed commitment to ensuring that the people of Ogoniland reap the full benefits of environmental remediation efforts.We
will continue to ensure that communities in Ogoniland have access to clean, safe and sustainable drinking water. With this initiative, we are not just commissioning infrastructure but restoring hope and dignity to the communities long deprived of this essential resource”, he said.

While commending the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, development partners, stakeholders and traditional rulers, among others for their relentless commitment towards the actualisation of these projects, he urged communities to protect and take ownership of the projects, emphasising that their longevity and effectiveness depend on their collective efforts of maintaining and protecting them for posterity.

In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey maintained that the Project remains resolute in its resolve to ensure that it completes and delivers all projects initiated within the time frame for the use and benefit of Ogoni people in line with the directives of the Governing Council and under the leadership of the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal.

To achieve this, Zabbey explained that “We
continue to work closely with community leaders, youth and women, contractors and other stakeholders to ensure solutions are identified and implementation continues smoothly.

”We remain guided by the principle of partnership, dialogue, transparency and accountability, knowing that sustainable progress is best achieved through collaboration and mutual understanding. That is the hallmark of HYPREP,” he said.

He appealed to the people to continue to reinforce peace and understanding, using dialogue as a vital tool for resolving disputes, especially around project sites and within communities, noting that the concurrent implementation of over 100 projects across Ogoniland reflects the seriousness and dedication of HYPREP, a momentum that must be sustained through mutual trust and collaboration.

For the Project Coordinator, the event was an ideal opportunity to provide a project status update to Ogoni people, as he excitedly announced the milestone achievements recorded so far to include environmental remediation-94 percent completion in Phase 1 of mangrove restoration; shoreline at 67.1percent; Phase 2 land remediation at 36.55 percent; potable water-14 completed water facilities inaugurated, supplying potable water to 40 Ogoni communities, while the commissioning of the Bane and Gwara water facilities last Saturday increased the number of communities with access to clean and safe water to 45.

Other milestones are the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) at 92 percent complete and the processes of operationalising the Centre has begun with the just concluded colloquium, while the Ogoni Power Project is progressing steadily with wayleave compensation and construction works at Bodo and Wiiyaakara substations ongoing. The Ogoni Specialist Hospital is at 76.8 percent with 98.7 percent achieved in the Buan Cottage Hospital. The Ogoni public study being conducted by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC); over 7,000 women and youths have benefited from various employment opportunities, while over 5,000 have been trained in multiple skills and provided start-up skits, among other programmes.

Zabbey further hinted of the commencement of some demand-driven skills areas this quarter, which include cybersecurity, full-stack development, mud logging, software development, GIS and commercial diving.

In their separate goodwill messages, the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Dumnamene Deekor; Chairman,Great Green Wall, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated, Hon Emmanuel Deeyah; Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Mr Nwizug Gordon; representative of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and General Manager, Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr Igo Weli; former Secretary to Rivers State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani; and former Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Prof Roseline Konya; all commended the Minister of Environment and HYPREP for their commitment to the Ogoni cleanup programme.

Earlier, the Minister and his entourage had paid a courtesy call on Mene Bua Kenwigbara, King D.Y Barile, at his palace, where the former was conferred a chieftaincy title of Mene Anua Le Maa 1 of Ken-Khana Kingdom; and the Project Coordinator of HYPREP as Mene doo Letam 1 of Ken-Khana Kingdom.

Also decorated were the Chairman of Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated, Hon Emmanuel Deeyah; and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Kambari.

Highpoints of the event were the formal commissioning of the Bane and Gwara water facilities by the Minister and the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Tony Attach,represented by Mr Igo Weli; the symbolic issuance of education support Items;and the visit to the Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Park for symbolic tree planting by the Minister; the Project Coordinator; BoT Chairman; Senator Abe; Igo Weli; Director General, NEASRA, Prof Innocent Barikor; and Zina Wiwa, the daughter of the legendary environmentalist; and the visit to the CEER.

In two years, the Minister of Environment, has visited Ogoniland five times to commission 16 water stations, supplying potable water to 45 Ogoni communities and ensuring that other projects get equal attention, a clear demonstration of his unflinching commitment to the accelerated implementation of the Ogoni cleanup programme in line with Priority 3, Deliverable 3 of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and driven under the visionary and passionate leadership of Prof Nenibarini Zabbey as Project Coordinator.

Nation

Don Seeks Funding of Language Centres

Published

1 week ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

A professor of English linguistics at the Rivers State University (RSU) Nkpolu Oroworukwu Port Harcourt, Prof. Isaac Enyi Ngulube, has advocated for better and improved funding for language centres in Nigeria, such as NINLAN Aba and Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, for optimum value and effective local languages development.

He also called for funded research on the development of orthographies and language documents across the country to rescue local languages from extinction, as well as having a well-planned and implemented mother tongue education in all institutions in the country, from primary to tertiary.

Prof. Ngulube made with these assertions while presenting his inaugural lecture at the university’s 121st inaugural lecture with the topic “The Career of Rough Beats: Language, Literature and the Development of our Common Humanity” held in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.

The erudite scholar, in the lecture, stressed that the study of English language, linguistics, and literature is very broad, large, and difficult, adding that he overcame the rough roads through resilience and determination.

He described language as “a purely human and non-instinctive means of communicating ideas and emotions,” noting that “the word is a fundamental need in language; you cannot study language without the use of language.”

He urged parents to be cautious with their utterances, warning that “what they refer to their children as is what they will automatically end up becoming.”

He recommended a branded English language for every profession or course of study, stressing that embedding oral literature in the teaching of students from primary to tertiary level will enable them to know their traditions and roots of origin.

“Tell them the folk stories and moonlight tales; you are sending them back to their people. You must be a human being first before becoming a medical doctor, engineer, or anything else,” Ngulube said.

He also called for better and improved production of quality language and literature teachers, provision of modern teaching/instructional materials, improved welfare packages for teachers, and provision of better infrastructure at both primary and secondary school levels.

He used the opportunity to appreciate the Vice Chancellor for the approval of the Department of English Language and Literature, adding that it had been his long-held dream for the university.

In his speech, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, while highlighting the lecture, opined that the lecturer x-rayed the lecturer’s journey into the study of English language, linguistics, and literature, describing the field as broad, large, and difficult, but with determination and focus, he was able to defeat the beasts he encountered on his way.

Zeb-Obipi agreed with the lecturer’s recommendations on ways to improve indigenous languages in the country and directed that modalities be worked out for the university to have the Department of English Language and Literature, among others.

He highlighted RSU’s recent victory in the Bilingual Community Project organized by the French Embassy, describing it as proof of the university’s rising excellence in language studies.