Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

June 27, 2011

Borno

Politicians in Borno, have advised the state government to end the Boko Haram crisis by initiating dialogue with the dreaded sect immediately.

They gave the advice in separate interviews with newsmen in Maiduguri.

“The Borno State Government should announce, through the state media, that it is ready to engage the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna lid Da’awati, popularly called the Boko Haram in a dialogue.

“The announcement will prompt their leaders in hiding to come out for talks, but if they failed to come out, government should engage those standing trial in various prisons,’’ Alhaji Abba Kale, the Chairman of the Borno State Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), said.

Ekiti

A 37-year-old woman, Mrs Mercy Olaiya, has sought the dissolution of her six-years-old marriage with Mr Olatunji Olaiya over frequent extra-marital affairs on their matrimonial bed.

Mercy also told the Ado-Ekiti Customary Court Grade 1 on Thursday, that her husband, who is a farmer, always beat her and neglects his duties to her.

Our correspondent quoted her as saying that their marriage has not been blessed with any child.

“I am tired of my husband sleeping with different women on our matrimonial bed. There have been several occasions when I come back home to see different used condoms scattered all over our bedroom”.

FCT

An Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court has sentenced one Lukman Abbas of Kado Estate, Abuja, to six months imprisonment for cheating a taxi driver.

Police Prosecutor Mohammed Ahmed told the court that one Oluwamojo Akinwale reported at the Maitama Police Station that the accused on June 17 ,deceived and hired him at the rate of N1, 200 per hour.

The prosecutor said the offence was contrary to Section 322 of the Penal Code Law.

The accused, who pleaded guilty begged the court for mercy and said he would never commit such an offence again.

The Senior Magistrate, Hauwa Aliyu, said that the jail sentence would serve as a punishment to Akinwale and a warning to others.

She, however, gave the accused an option of N5, 000 fine.

Gombe

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Gombe state chapter, has urged the state government to resuscitate the state fertiliser blending plant.

Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji, the National Publicity Secretary of the association, made the call in Gombe in an interview with newsmen.

Magaji said that resuscitating the moribund plant would enable the state to produce enough fertiliser to meet the demand of its farmers.

“It is our wish that the Gombe Fertiliser Blending Plant be resuscitated”.

“Resuscitating the plant will enable the state to produce enough fertiliser to meet the demand of our teeming farming populace”.

“In addition, it will enhance the production of fertiliser that is suitable for our soil and by implication, increase the fertility of our farmland,” he said.

Kaduna

The staff of the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria, Kaduna State, have been tasked to dedicate themselves to service to ensure productive researches.

The Director-General, Dr Ebenezer Okonkwo, gave the charge in Zaria, while receiving an award from the sports club of the institute.

Okonkwo said it was only through hard work, dedication and commitment to duty that workers in all sectors of the economy could promote national growth and development.

He also urged them to play active roles in nation building through their various offices.

Kano

Alhaji Gambo Danpass, a chieftain of the PDP, has advised the party to accept the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives, as an act of God.

Danpass, the Chairman, Publicity Committee of the PDP in Kano State, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Kano.

He advised the national leadership of the party to be “cautious” in handling the issue.

Kastina

Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, a large-scale farmer in Faskari local government of Katsina State, has appealed to farmers who benefitted from the loan disbursed by the state government to pay back when due.

Last month, the government distributed tractors and other equipment to large- scale farmers as loan.

Cows and ploughs were also distributed as loan to small and medium-scale farmers in all the 34 local governments of the state.

Abubakar told newsmen in Faskari that the loan would fast-track agricultural activities and boost food production in the state.

Abubakar, who got a tractor as loan, said the facility would enable him to expand his farmland.

He said that other farmers near his farm as well as people from the community would benefit from the use of the tractor.

Kebbi

The Kebbi House of Assembly has begun deliberations to enact a law banning the possession, sale and abuse of drugs used as stimulants.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Alhaji Jafaru Mohammed, disclosed this in Birnin Kebbi while addressing a youth forum.

The forum was organised by the state command of the NDLEA to mark the 2011 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.

The theme of the forum is, “Global Action for Healthy Communities Without Drugs”.

Mohammed said a first reading of the bill on the control of medicinal drugs had been adopted, stressing that it would soon be passed into law.

Lagos

A Lagos High Court has fixed July 14 for ruling on the no case submission filed by Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo.

Al-Mustapha, Rabo Lawal and Lateef Shofolahan are facing criminal trial over their alleged involvement in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

Justice Mojisola Dada had on May 31 dismissed an application filed by the Lagos State Government to reopen its case against the defendants.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Ojo argued his written address on a no-case submission in favour of the defendant.

According to him, the prosecution lacked the requisite evidence to support their case and the court is under no obligation to help them establish one.

Niger

A legislator in Niger State, Mr. Jacob Majin-Gana, has appealed to the Federal and Niger State Government to provide farmers with modern farming inputs to farmers to boost food production.

Majin-Gana (PDP), representing Lavun constituency in the state House of Assembly, made the appeal in Bida in an interview with newsmen.

He also stressed the need for the Federal Government to adopt policies to boost food production.

“Adequate provision of farm inputs to farmers will guarantee food security for the nation”.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and mineral resources and governments need not depend on revenue from the sale of crude”.

Osun

Chief Adelowo Adebiyi, the ACN Chairman in Osun, has urged the people of the state to be patient over the delay in the constitution of the State Executive Council.

Adebiyi told newsmen on Thursday, in Osogbo, that Governor Rauf Aregbesola, was determined to appoint only the most qualified persons into his cabinet.

The PDP had criticised Aregbesola for the delay in constituting his cabinet.

Aregbesola on Tuesday, said he was exercising caution in appointing commissioners after the last House of Assembly failed in the bid to impeach him.

Adebiyi expressed concern over the impatience of the PDP on the issue, describing the criticism as a design to distract public attention from the realities on the ground.

Plateau

A gynaecologist, Prof. Patrick Daru, has said that women within the reproductive age who start experiencing sudden, sharp, recurring abdominal pain, may have ovarian cyst.

Daru says ovarian cyst is a growth in the ovary containing some fluids, while the cyst can be psychological or pathological.

“We do not worry about the psychological ovarian cyst, it usually occurs during the woman’s monthly cycle when she releases egg”.

“Sometimes the egg overgrows and becomes a growth on the ovary measuring less than five centimetres in diameter; cyst usually regresses and disappears”.

“The pathological cysts are the ones we should worry about; it becomes pathological when it has nothing to do with the monthly cycle, this cyst usually grows on the ovary and becomes quite large and constitutes a problem,” he explained.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeola Adeniyi, says his command’s anti-bomb squad has been placed on red alert.

Adeniyi told newsmen in Sokoto that the command had also commenced “ stop and search ” patrols across the state.

The police boss said the move was in response to the recent security challenges in the country.

“ This is to nip any unforeseen security problem in the bud to further ensure the security of lives and property”.

“ I had visited the boys out there and warned them against any act of extortion”.

“ I had also warned them against turning the various check points into toll gates,’’ he said.

Zamfara

The Election Petitions Tribunal in Zamfara, has struck out an application for the withdrawal of petition by the PPA governorship candidate, Alhaji Hassan Sarkin-Pawa.

Sarkin-Pawa had filed a petition before the tribunal, challenging the outcome of the April 26 governorship election in the state on the grounds of non-inclusion of his political party’s logo in the ballot. papers.

In a twist to teh proceedings, however, Sarkin-Pawa filed an application seeking to withdraw the petition two days after it ws received by the tribunal.

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.