Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

March 26, 2010

Adamawa

The Adamawa government has approved N35 million for the purchase of meat vans to transport meat from abattoirs to markets within the state.

The Commissioner for Livestock Production, Dr Lawan Hamidu, said this in Yola, during an interactive session with the peer review team of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The team was in the state to inspect government’s developmental projects and their impact on the people, an exercise which it began last year.

Hamidu said that the decision to purchase the vans was to meet the challenges of transporting meat from abattoirs and to ensure the consumption of healthy and wholesome meat as well as disease free animals.”

Bauchi

The Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) in Bauchi State has said that it will resist any attempt to use the church to cause disorder in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state.

The Church stated this in a statement made available to The Tide’s source in Bauchi.

The statement, which was signed by Rev. Yusuf Waziri and Rev. Yakubu Saidu, said that the clarification became necessary following allegations that some people were planning to use the Church to cause mayhem in the state.

It said that the principal aim of the Church worldwide was the salvation of souls, adding that the objective could only be achieved through peaceful means.

“The spirit of God, through Christ, vests upon all Christians and enjoins all believers an existence of peace and not violence, good neighbourliness and not acrimony, peaceful co-existence and love, not war or hatred.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government at the weekend disbursed N50 million loans to 250 farmers under the first phase of its newly introduced Peasant Farmers Programme.

The Tide’s source reports that each of the farmers drawn from the 177 political wards in the state received N200,000.

Speaking at the ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, Governor Segun Oni, who said the loan would be interest-free, noted that the scheme was designed to assist each of benefiting farmers to cultivate a minimum of two hectares of both annual and perennial crops this farming season.

Oni, who identified lack of funds as a major problem militating against the agricultural sector in the country, said that the state government decided to pioneer direct funding of agriculture with the aim of enhancing food security.

He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the loans and ensure repayment within four years to enable others to have access to the funds.

The governor announced that 250 peasant farmers would benefit from the programme annually.

FCT

Dr Nafisatu Muhammad, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Nomadic Education, said 60 per cent improvement on girl-child education had been achieved through Gender Education Project (GEP).

GEP is an empowerment programme of the Federal Ministry of Education to give educational access to boys and girls in the southern and northern parts of the country respectively.

Muhammad made this known in Abuja recently in an interview with newsmen.

“In the current data, you still find girls still hawking although it has improved with a lot of sensitisation and mobilisation that is going on under the GEP”, he said.

Kaduna

Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Mohammed Tamberi, has linked the high prevalence of rape cases to multiple tenancy.

Tamberi said this in Kaduna while parading three rape suspects.

The police chief noted that while incidence of rapes were uncommon in high brow areas, their frequency was on the increase in places with shared tenancy.

According to him, the highest incidence of rapes were recorded in Rigassa and Tudun Wada areas of the town.Tamberi regretted the incidences, but assured the public that the police was not relenting in the efforts to rid the state of criminals.

He said the three suspected rapists entered the houseof one Mohammed Salihu and defiled the housemaid.

Kano

Sheikh Salisu Muhammad, an Islamic scholar, has called for special prayers over the persisting crisis in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Muhammad made the call recently at a monthly lecture delivered at the Sanabiyyatul Nisa’iyyatul Islamic Institute in Kano.

He said that there was need for both Muslims and Christians in the country to offer special prayers for peace to be restored in Jos.

“It is very strange and uncomfortable to witness that a place like Jos, which is blessed with so many natural and human resources is in crisis,” Muhammad said.

He described the crisis as political, saying that some group of people were benefiting from the blood shed that was taking place in the area.

Mohammed, therefore, urged the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to “the endless bloodshed’’, and pleaded with the elders to come to the rescue of the “weeping land of Jos’’

Kogi

The Kogi State Government is to construct two new modern markets in Lokoja to complement the existing International Market located in the state capital.

Mr Mohammed Sule, the State Commissioner for Environment and Physical Development, disclosed this in Lokoja in an interview with newsmen.

He said that the two markets, one of which would be sited in Ganaja and the other in Dogondaji areas of Lokoja, were expected to accommodate traders who could not secure stalls at the International Market.

Ogun

The Ogun State Government has appointed Prof. Segun Awonusi as the new Vice Chancellor of the state-owned Tai Solarin University of Education.

The appointment is contained in a statement signed by Mr Shina Kawonise, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, a copy of which was made available to The Tide’s source in Abeokuta .

The source reports that Awonusi is to take over from Prof Kayode Oyesiku, whose five-year tenure expires on March 31.

The new vice chancellor is currently the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.

According to the statement, “Gov Gbenga Daniel of Ogun has approved the appointment of Prof Olusegun Awonusi as the new Vice Chancellor of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode.

“Otunba Daniel who is also the Visitor to the University, authorised the appointment following the recommendation of the Governing Council of the University which sanctioned his appointment as a replacement for the pioneer Vice Chancellor, Prof Kayode Oyesiku, whose five-year tenure ends on March 31, 2010.”

Yobe

The Yobe College of Agriculture in Gujba has introduced veterinary services to reduce the mortality rate in animals in the host community.

The Provost of the college, Alhaji Mulima Mato, told The Tide’s source in Gujba that animals, including goats, sheep and cattle, which were slaughtered or died of common ailments, had been treated and saved by the college.

He explained that “the clinic had provided medical services to animals with complications arising from polythene materials eaten by the animals which were very common.

“We have also carried out surgery on animals with birth complications,” he said.

The provost added that the community had in the past lost many animals to curable ailments due to the lack of medical attention.

He said that “quacks visiting the farmers had exploited the situation, providing sub-standard drugs and services and causing economic loss to the farmers”.

Nation

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

Published

3 days 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.