Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

June 13, 2011

Benue

Mr Terhemen Tarzoor, Speaker, Benue House of Assembly, has commended the Senate for re-electing Chief David Mark as its President.

Terzoor told newsmen in Makurdi that the unanimous election of Mark showed that he lived above board in the sixth National Assembly.

He declared: “For Mark to co-ordinate the activities of the Senate for four years without major challenges that could warrant any call for his impeachment showed that he displayed a high sense of maturity in handling issues”.

“It is quite challenging to co-ordinate people with divergent backgrounds without acrimony, Mark has conveniently done that and he deserves commendation”.

FCT

Mrs Mulikat Adeola-Akande has commended women for supporting her during her recent contest for speakership of the House of Representatives.

Speaking in Abuja during an event organised by the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Adeola-Akande said she was surprised at such support.

“I want to say a big thank-you to Nigerian women; they have shown that the 35 per cent affirmative action would be achieved if women support one another”.

“The development of this nation is the responsibility of all Nigerians; God has proved to us that men and women are partners in progress”, she remarked.

She explained that the event which unfolded on the day of the election showed to the world that it was not all about a gender issue but capability.

Kaduna

The newly constituted Kaduna State House of Assembly promised to enact “quality laws” that would improve the lives of the people.

Dr Mato Dogara, the Deputy Speaker, told newsmen in Kaduna that his colleagues had resolved to make a difference in legislation by writing their names in gold.

Dogara said: “We have resolved to pass quality people oriented laws and adopt motions that will fast-track development in the state and enhance the lives of our people.

“This is the covenant between us and the electorate and we pray to God to enable us succeed”.

Kogi

The Kogi State Chapter of the NLC has welcome the state government’s decision to pay the salary relativity of N14,100 to workers in the state.

The State Chairman of the NLC, Mr James Odaodu in a reaction to the government’s approval of the new salary in Lokoja, described the action as great, saying that “it portends a sign of good things to come for workers:

He said that the labour insistence on the payment of N16,000 as pay relativity was dropped when the labour leaders evaluated all options tabled before them for consideration which he said included option to sack some of the workers”.

Odaodu also stated that teachers in the state would also benefit from the new wage, which he said, had now raised the current minimum wage of N6,000 to N14,100.

He, however, called on government not to renege on its promise to commence the payment with effect from June 1.

Lagos

A 24 year man, Sunday Agboola, was in Lagos docked at an Apapa Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly impersonating a naval officer.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Uche Kalu, told the court that Agboola was arrested on May 29 at about 9.30 p.m. at the railway line, Ijora-Badia, Lagos, impersonating a naval officer.

Kalu said that the accused had been parading himself as a naval officer and harassing residents.

He said that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 109 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos 2003.

Our correspondent reports that the accused pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

She adjourned further hearing in the case till June 20.

Ogun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has set up a task force to devise measures on how to combat the impending flooding in the state.

Amosun said in a statement issued in Abeokuta by Mrs Funmi Wakaka, his Senior Special Assistant (Media and Communication), that the step was a proactive measure aimed at containing the expected flooding during the rainy season.

Our correspondent reports that the National Emergency Management Agency, the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority and meteorologists have predicted heavy rainfall as from June, resulting in widespread flooding.

They all warned that unless precautionary measures were taken, the resultant havoc might be greater than that of 2010.

The task force consists of permanent secretaries in the state Ministries of Works, Environment and Water Resources as well as the Bureau of Urban and Physical Planning.

Osun

Mr Opeyemi Adepoju, a stalwart of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun, said that the election of Malam Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker, House of Representatives was democratic.

Adepoju told newsmen in Osogbo that the emergence of Tambuwal had shown the workings of “a true democracy”.

Our correspondent reports that the Peoples Democratic Party’s zooning formula failed with the election of Tambuwal as Speaker on Monday.

It was further recalled that the election did not favour the party’s candidate as Tambuwal defeated Mrs Mulikat Akande-Adeola from the South West 252 to 90 votes.

According to him, the PDP zoning arrangement might not have produced the best person for the position.

It would be recalled that Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, PDP National Publicity Secretary on Tuesday, said that the Party might revisit its zoning formula.

Oyo

Mr Gabriel Ibe, the Oyo State Co-ordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has announced that the management of the cops will no longer post corps members to crisis prone areas in the country.

He made the announcement in Ibadan when he led top members of his staff on a courtesy visit to the wife of the state governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi.

Ibe said each state coordinator had been directed by the management of the corps to post any corps member to any crisis prone area in the country, adding that the directive would make effect with the next deployment of corps members on July 7.

He noted that the security and safety of lives of corps members had been the major challenge of the scheme.

Sokoto

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has called for the establishment of District Council Fund for the traditional institutions to effectively supervise government infrastructure in their domains.

Receiving the traditional rulers in the 19 northern states, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, at Government House, he said such funds would address the pressing needs of the populace.

He explained that the rural dwellers had direct contact with the traditional institutions than local government chairmen and councilors.

Wamakko said the state government would continue to identify with the Sultanate Council, to uplift the welfare of the people.

“We have been operating like a family for the common good of our people.

“We have succeeded in being where we are today based on the support, co-operation and prayers from the royal fathers”, Wamakko said.

Yobe

The Deputy Governor of Yobe, Abubakar Ali, says the new 40-bed mother and child hospital complex will soon be ready, expected to decongest existing facilities at the Damaturu Specialist Hospital.

Ali, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Yayaha Barde, explained that government was committed to boosting maternal and child health as well as to reduce mortality rate in the state.

“Government has sustained the free drug programme for expectant mothers, children and road accident victims across the state”, he said.

The deputy governor, who supervises the ministry, noted that “government has rehabilitated all hospitals and clinics and upgraded most facilities in the hospitals to meet the challenges and provide patients with psychological and medical needs”.

Zamfara

The Acting Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, Dr Tajudeen Aiyedun, urged aggrieved workers of the institution to put public health above personal grudges and call off their strike.

The workers on Wednesday embarked on an indefinite strike at the end of a two-week ultimatum calling for the immediate removal of Aiyedun.

Our correspondent reports that the strike had forced patients to relocate to other public health institutions inspite of the poor services.

The Joint Health Unions (JHU) of the centre had insisted that workers would not resume duties unless Aiyedun was removed.

Aiyedun, however, told newsmen that the on-going strike by the JHU was a threat to public health.

He said the leadership of the union acted in ignorance of due process concerning the vacation of the medical director at the expiration of a four-year tenure.

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.