Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

November 8, 2010

Bauchi

Bauchi State Police Command says it has spread its dragnet to apprehend kidnappers of an 11-year-old girl last Thursday.

The minor and daughter of former Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, was kidnapped on her way to school.

The spokesman for the Command, Mohammed Barau, told newsmen in Bauchi on Friday that the command received the information from Sadiya, mother of the girl at about 8.45 a.m. on Thursday

“On receiving the information, the Housing Estate Division of the command immediately visited the residence of Alhaji Ahmed Al-Mustafa where preliminary investigation was conducted,” he said.

FCT

The Police in the FCT say they have arrested a man (name withheld) for allegedly defrauding an Abuja-based motor company of five Toyota Prado jeeps worth N78 million.

SP Moshood Jimoh, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, who disclosed this last Friday to newsmen, said all the vehicles had been recovered from the suspect.

Jimoh said the suspect presented a “manager’s cheque” to the company to convince it that he had enough money in his account to pay for the vehicles and the company released them to him.

He, however, said that when the company discovered that there was no money in the suspect’s account, it lodged a complaint with the police.

Gombe

Mr Ado Solomon, the Director, National Orientation Agency in Gombe State, has cautioned politicians against using youths to perpetrate violence in the course of their electioneering.

Solomon gave the advice during the presentation of an award to the Chairman, Gombe Local Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, as the UN Ambassador of Peace in Gombe State.

He described Gombe as the most peaceful state in the North-East zone and called on politicians to sustain the prevailing atmosphere.

Solomom also called on the people to participate fully in the voter registration coming up soon.

Kaduna

An official of the World Bank has urged the Kaduna State government to remit the N45 million counterpart fund for Fadama III to fast track implementation of the programme.

Dr Lucas Akapa, the North-West Fadama III Task leader, made the appeal in Kaduna when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Gov. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa.

Akapa appealed to the government to prevail on council chairmen to remit their contribution of N46 million to enhance implementation of Fadama projects.

He noted that timely remittance of funds would enhance implementation of the programme, increase the income of Fadama users and add value to their lives.

Kano

A CPC gubernatorial aspirant in Kano, retired Brig.-Gen. Lawal Ja’afaru-Isa, has regretted that cholera, typhoid, malaria and meningitis are still ravaging the population in the state.

Addressing newsmen in Kano last Friday, Ja’afaru-Isa said it was unfortunate that the diseases, which had been eradicated in some parts of the world, were still rocking the state.

He said that the diseases had been claiming lives in parts of the state and questioned the healthcare programme of the authorities concerned.

Katsina

The Department For International Development (DFID) has selected three local government areas in Katsina State for the implementation of the Sanitation, Hygiene And Water in Nigeria (SHAWN) project.

Under the programme, the selected councils are expected to achieve 100 per cent coverage in sanitation, hygiene and water supply.

Alhaji Aminu Dayyabu, the SHAWN Desk Officer in Katsina, told newsmen Friday in Katsina that the selected councils were Bakori, Kaita and Mai’adua.

Kebbi

The Border Communities Development Authority (BCDA) in Kebbi State says insecurity can be addressed effectively if local policing and welfare of security personnel could be improved.

Mr Numoipre Wills, the Executive Secretary of the authority, said this at a sensitisation workshop on Friday in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Boundary Commission, BCDA and the Kebbi State Government.

Kogi

The Project Coordinator, World Bank Assisted FADAMA III Programme, Mr Musa Dalang, says the programme is capable of winning the war against hunger and poverty but through sustained efforts.

Dalang said this while speaking with newsmen in Mopa in Kogi at the Third Joint World Bank/FGN Supervision Mission to Kabba-Bunu and Mopa-Muro Local Governments of Kogi.

The coordinator assured farmers that with the level of capacity building and training imparted on farmers so far, operators of the programme were well equipped to guarantee the victory against hunger, diseases and poverty.

Lagos

Two commercial motorcyclists, docked last Friday in Lagos for allegedly stealing a motorcycle, have been remanded in Ikoyi Prisons pending when they would perfect their bail conditions.

The accused, Umaru Abubakar, 27, and Ali Abdulahi, 26, were arraigned at the Surulere Chief Magistrate’s Court for the alleged theft of a Bajaj motorcycle, valued at N99,000.

The duo, standing trial before Chief Magistrate Mrs Abiola Soladoye, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.

Ogun

Suspected armed smugglers on Thursday at Idiroko Border, Ogun, killed a customs officer and left two of his colleagues seriously injured.

The deceased (names withheld) was an Assistant Superintendent serving with the Federal Operations Unit.

It was learnt that the deceased officer was run over by a vehicle in a convoy of five suspected smugglers’ vehicles that rushed through a customs barricade at Ajilete, near Idiroko Border.

Osun

As the dry season approaches, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has advised market women to guard against fire outbreaks.

Mrs Bolanle Ojo, a top official of the agency gave the advice last week Thursday, when she visited the Atakumosa Market Ilesa, to inspect 15 shops that were razed by fire.

She called on the people to always employ the services of experts for the wiring of their shops to prevent fire outbreaks.

Ojo posited that power surge due to illegal connections, might have caused the fire.

Oyo

The Registrar, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Dr Oyedele Oyediji has stressed the need for feed millers in the country to comply with international standards.

He made the call in an interview with newsmen last Friday in Ibadan.

Oyedeji identified problems hampering the effort of millers to form a viable National Feed-Millers Association as a major challenge in the country’s feed-milling industry.

“Several efforts have been made to revive the feed-millers association without much success.

Plateau

Governor Paulen Tallen of Plateau last Friday declared that she had “never insulted” her boss, Gov. Jonah Jang.

The two former political allies are locked in a fierce contest for the PDP ticket for the governorship election in 2011.

“A newspaper quoted me on Monday as declaring that I will push out Gov. Jang in 2011.

“The report quoted me as saying so many things that I could not have said; this is not fair at all.

“It is not right to pit me against my boss,” she told newsmen by telephone in Jos.

Sokoto

Former Sokoto State Governor and presidential candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the 2007 general elections , Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has registered as a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Bafarawa registered at the Gebe “B” ward of Isa Local Government Area of the state .

The former governor, who is also a presidential aspirant of the ACN, was registered by the chairman of the party at the ward, Alhaji Abdulrahman Dan-Amarya.

Bafarawa’s name is number one in the party’s register while his registration number is 1991801 ACN.

He later told newsmen after registering that, “ I am a founding member of the ACN because we have been discussing on the mega party issue over one year ago”.

Nation

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

Published

1 week 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.