Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

October 25, 2010

Adamawa

Hawkers of various commodities, including food and hard currency are now making brisk business at the Yola International Airport due to ongoing airlift of pilgrims.

An intending pilgrim, Mr Usman Ibrahim, told our correspondent on Thursday in Yola, that the pilgrims were happy about the activities of the hawkers.

Ibrahim said that the hawkers of assorted goods were able to meet the needs of the pilgrims, as well as the needs of their friends and relations that came to see them off.

“However, one has to be vigilant, as some hawkers can give someone fake currency and that is why you need a guide, who can distinguish between fake and genuine currency,” Fatima added.

Bauchi

Senator Iliya Audu, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Bauchi State, on Wednesday, urged journalists to expose underage persons wanting to register as voters during the voter registration.

Audu made the call at the opening of a two-day sensitisation workshop for journalists, organised by Bauchi State Television Corporation in Bauchi.

The REC, who appealed to the media to be positive in reporting election issues, called on all stakeholders to assist in ensuring credible elections in 2011.

Borno

The Police in Maiduguri on Wednesday, confirmed the killing of a Police Inspector by hoodlums suspected to be Boko Haram Sect members.

“We witnessed another ugly incident yesterday, when a police inspector, Mr Kashim Bukar, was shot dead by hoodlums suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect”.

“Bukar, an officer with the CID was trailed by the killers to his house at the Jajeri Ward, Maiduguri, shortly after closing from work before he was shot on the head severally,” Mr Lawal Abdullahi, Police Public Relations Officer, said.

Abdullahi said that the officer was in mufti when he was shot by the killers in front of his house.

Ekiti

The U.S. Consul-General in Nigeria, Mr Joseph Stafford, has promised to collaborate with the Ekiti State Government to provide development projects for the people.

Stafford told newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, at the end of his tour of Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states, that the assistance would span through political and economic sphere.

“The consulate, in conjunction with the American Embassy, is ready to provide assistance to Ekiti State in the areas of political and economic developments through the U.S. intervention agencies,” he said.

FCT

The FCT Chief Judge, Justice Lawal Gummi, on Wednesday, inaugurated the FCT Family Court to entertain both civil and criminal matters involving children.

Gummi said the court, which is located in Apo District of Abuja, was a specialised court dealing with all matters relating to the enforcement of the rights of the child.

In addition, he said, the court would deal with other matters relating to a child, including monetary claims of N50,000 and above.

According to Gumi, the court will deal with the divorce and custody of the child and entertain appeals from the Family Court at the Magistrate’s Court level.

Jigawa

The Jigawa Government has set aside N624 million for the electrification of 28 towns and villages in the state.

The Commissioner for Rural Infrastructure and Community Development, Alhaji Abdulkadir Jinjiri, said in Dutse on Thursday, that contract for the electrification of the town had been awarded.

Jinjiri told newsmen that 17 contractors would be involved in the execution of the projects, adding that the projects were captured in the 2010 budget.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government is to procure drugs and consumables worth N530 million for the treatment of pregnant women and children under five years.

The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Saidu Adamu, made the announcement while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State’s Executive Council Meeting on Wednesday in Kaduna.

Adamu said that over N400 million would be spent to purchase injectables and consumables for women and children.

Katsina

Alhaji Muntari Dandutse, the Chairman of Funtua Local Government Council of Katsina State, has emphasised the need for politicians to work for the interest of the people.

Dandutse made the call in Funtua at the swearing-in of Alhaji Haruna Suleiman, the new Supervisory Councillor in charge of Water and Sanitation Department of the council.

He enjoined public office holders to work for the people, saying that the people should in turn pray for their leaders and shun negative comments.

Dandutse also urged the people to register and obtain their voters’ cards, saying that they needed them to vote in the right candidates during elections.

Kogi

The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah, has condemned the practice of giving judgement to the highest bidder by the lower courts

“I discovered that some of our judges, particularly at the lower courts, were giving judgment to the highest bidder.’’

He said this at a special court session to mark the beginning of the 2010/2011 Legal Year in Lokoja, on Wednesday.

The chief judge said 33,750 of the cases recorded from the 208 courts across the state were disposed of, leaving 17,125.

He said 2,337 cases were registered at the state High Courts, out of which 1,867 were disposed of, with 470 outstanding.

Lagos

President, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr Bode Adediji, wants the Federal Government to set up a body that would oversee land matters.

Adediji told newsmen on Thursday, in Lagos, that the body was necessary in view of the National Assembly’s delay in the review of Land Use Act 1978.

According to him, several bills on housing had been sent to the National Assembly and none had received attention in the last 12 years.

Nasarawa

The Guards Brigade of the Nigeria Army in Keffi on Wednesday, began a three-day field training with other security agencies tagged“exercise sting ray“.

The exercise, which started at the Shittu Alao Barracks, Keffi, was a routine training to test the responsiveness of the brigade to civil strife.

Our correspondent also reports that the exercise was in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and other para-military agencies like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigerian Immigration Service and the State Security Services (SSS).

Ogun

The Ogun State Government has approved free distribution of 830,000 cocoa seedlings to cocoa farmers in the state.

Chief Moyo Owotomo, Director, Extension Services, Ogun Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), made the announcement on Thursday in Ijebu-Ode in an interview with newsmen.

He said the distribution of the seedlings was part of government’s effort to assist cocoa farmers to boost cocoa production in the state.

Owotomo urged farmers who had yet to receive the seedlings to contact the state ministry of agriculture for collection.

Sokoto

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has advised intending Muslim pilgrims to pray for peace and stability of the country during their stay in Saudi Arabia.

Wamakko gave the advice in Sokoto, on Wednesday, at Sir Abubakar International Airport while addressing those from Shagari and Kebbe local government areas before their departure.

The governor emphasised that the nation was in need of prayers for God’s intervention in all the activities going on in the country.

“You should embark on special prayers for God’s guidance, so that the desire of Nigerians to conduct a credible election will be a reality.

Taraba

The National Association of Fulani Fulaku, has urged nomads in Taraba State to come out en-masse to register in the forthcoming voter registration exercise.

The Representative of the association, Ahmed Liman, gave the advice on Wednesday in Iware Town in Taraba while addressing thousands of Fulanis.

The Fulanis converged on the town for the sensitisation exercise on the oncoming voters’ register.

He said that failure of the nomads to obtain voters’ registration cards would prevent them from voting for positive change in the 2011 general elections.

Liman urged nomads who attended 18 years and above to go and exercise their civic responsibility, stressing that any eligible voter who refused to vote had relinquished his rights.

Yobe

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Armoured Division, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Idoko, says the military is ready to deal decisively with any threat to the nation’s internal security.

He gave the assurance on Wednesday in Damaturu when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe.

Idoko said the military was ever ready to deal with the challenges posed by the rising cases of banditry, kidnapping and other civil unrests, promising that the army would maintain a high sense of professionalism in the discharge of its duties.

Responding, Gaidam said that the combined efforts of the army, police and vigilante groups “have changed the status of Yobe from a state reputed for high incidence of highway banditry to one that is most peaceful and secured in the federation”.

Nation

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

Published

1 day 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

1 month 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

1 month 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.