Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

October 27, 2010

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BARUWASSA) says it has spent over N480 million in providing 300 water and sanitation facilities in the state in the last four years.

The Programme Manager of the agency, Malam Garba Magaji, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi last Monday.

According to him, the projects, funded by UNICEF, have been provided in 50 primary schools each in Dass, Kirfi, Darazo, Giade, Zaki and Dambam Local Government Areas of the state.

He explained that the projects involved the provision of 50 water and sanitation facilities in each of the six benefiting local governments.

Ekiti

Farmers in Ekiti State have appealed to the Federal Government to ban the importation of rice as part of efforts to boost local production of the commodity.

The farmers, under the aegis of the Association of Small-Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSPIN), made the appeal on Monday in Ado-Ekiti at the inauguration of the state chapter of the group.

Mr Mabinuori Adeleke, National Vice-President of the association, insisted that placing a ban on rice importation would encourage local rice farmers to boost production.

He said that rice farmers in the state were contemplating sponsoring a bill at the National Assembly to outlaw the importation of rice.

FCT

The FCT Fadama office has so far disbursed N94.2 million to community farming associations in the territory, for assets acquisition, input support and capacity building.

Mr Usman Adangara, the Information Officer, FCT Fadama III Project, disclosed this on Monday in Gwagwalada in an interview with newsmen.

He said the office had also registered 732 Fadama User Groups (FUG) and 61 Fadama Community Associations (FCA) in the territory.

According to him, 41 out of the 61 FCA have developed their Local Development Plans(LDPs), adding that 22 of the plans had been approved by the Local Fadama Committees (LFCs), headed by the area council chairmen.

Gombe

The Radiation Medicine Complex at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe, was commissioned last Monday, with the Medical Director, Dr Aliyu Elnafaty, describing it as the most equipped and first of its kind in the country.

Elnafaty said on the occasion that the complex offered the latest technology in radiation and had been inspected by the regulatory authority and certified to meet the FMC’s compliance level.

He said the facility was long overdue, considering the prevalence of cancer-related afflictions in the North-East zone of the country.

“Before, patients with cancer had to travel to the National Hospital in Abuja or the Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital in Zaria for such services.

Kaduna

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday appealed to prospective pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to be worthy ambassadors of the country.

Its Deputy Director in Kaduna, Mr Dennis Nwosu, told newsmen that the agency was undertaking an inspection at the airports to stop pilgrims from leaving the country with uncertified products.

He said only prescribed drugs for those on medication were allowed, and reminded the pilgrims that food and grains were prohibited.

“People can use this opportunity to smuggle illicit drugs which, when discovered, may tarnish the image of our country,” he said.

Kwara

A 38-year-old man, Tunde Isah, was last Monday arraigned in Ilorin for allegedly stealing a generator set worth N18,000.

The accused, of No 7, Ode Ajada, Agbaji area of Ilorin, was docked before an Ilorin Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr Abdullahi Bello.

Isah pleaded not guilty to the one count charge of theft.

The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N10,000 with two sureties in like sum.

According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), a complainant, Kehinde Ibrahim, of Olorunsogo, Gaa- Akanbi, Ilorin, reported the case to the police on October 17.

The report alleged that the accused came to the complainant’s shop to steal the generator worth N18,000.

Lagos

A motor spare parts importer, Osaretin Ehiogie, was yesterday arraigned in Lagos for allegedly defrauding a foreign-based Nigerian of automobile parts valued N6.2 million.

Ehiogie, 50, is standing trial before Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oyindamola Ogala of the Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Eshiet Eshiet, told the court that Ehiogie had a business deal with one Roland Lawrence, based abroad, to supply him (accused) motor parts for sale in Nigeria.

Eshiet said the accused collected the vehicle parts at the Apapa ports and sold them, but refused to remit the proceeds to the complainant.

The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till November 15 for further hearing.

Nasarawa

The Federal Government has been called upon to provide orphans and vulnerable children with free education from the primary to secondary school levels.

The Secretary, Association of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (AOVC), Nasarawa Chapter, Mr Ibrahim Samaila, made the call in Lafia on Monday.

He said the state governments should make a special financial commitment to enhance the activities of the association.

Presenting a paper entitled “Overview of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Nigeria” at a workshop, Samaila said that OVC constituted 31 per cent of the children population in Nigeria.

He said if nothing was done to curtail the situation, the number may double by the end of this year as projected by the UNICEF.

Samaila commended Gov. Akwe Doma for ensuring that such children were given hope and support in the society.

Osun

The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo last Monday remanded two persons, Kasim Adegbite, 24, and Dele Johnson, 35, for allegedly dealing in Indian hemp.

Adegbite and Johnson were arraigned for unlawfully dealing in 330g and 6.8kg of cannabis sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp respectively.

Plateau

The Dutch government is “very concerned” about the peace and security situation in Nigeria, the Royal Netherlands Embassy said yesterday.

Mr Bert Ronhaar, the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, made the remark during a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Sunny Tyoden.

“The Dutch government has a policy of promoting peace and security across the globe and we are particularly interested in peace in Africa and our major concern is Nigeria.

“That is why we spend tax payers’ money to fund peace and security projects in Nigeria by facilitating the functions of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Management and Peace Building in the University of Jos,” he said.

Sokoto

Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, the Sokoto State Governor, has urged the Federal Government to revive the nation’s agricultural sector.

Wamakko made the appeal in Sokoto last Monday when he kicked off the distribution of a N1 billion agricultural loan scheme, under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, the CBN-CACS of the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government has the wherewithal to revive the sector. This is being done in other parts of the world.

Yobe

Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe said last Monday that his administration would collaborate with religious groups to combat the escalating incidences of cholera in the state.

Speaking at the launch of a N20 million education appealed fund in Damaturu, Gaidam said the role of religious leaders was significant and necessary in creating awareness on hygiene.

He said the outbreak of cholera in the state was caused by peoples’ ignorance about cleanliness and non-compliance with environmental laws.

Earlier, the leader of Islamic group that organised the launch, Sheik Haruna Gashua, said it was organised to expand mosques and provide opportunities to educate the people.

He appealed to Muslims to assist the government in ensuring peace and stability in the state.

Zamfara

A suspected cholera outbreak in Government Girls Secondary School (GGASS), Gusau, has killed at least two students of the school.

The infected students were kept in an isolated area within the premises where they received treatments from medical personnel from the state ministry of health.

Gov. Mahmud Shinkafi paid a sympathy visit to the school last Monday.

Addressing the staff and students, Shinkafi wished the patients quick recovery and prayed to God to avert future occurrence.

He also prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead.

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.