Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

January 23, 2012

Adamawa

The Adamawa Government has restricted the operations of commercial motorcyclists in the state from 6p.m. to 6p.m.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Maijamaa Adamu, who confirmed the development, said in Yola on Thursday that the restriction was part of measures to improve security in the state.

Maijamaa said that the governor had met with officials of the commercial motorcyclists union in the state, where he briefed them on measures to introduce tricycles for their members.

He said that government would also introduce buses to ease transportation problem across the state.

He called for continuous support and cooperation of the people with the state government, as “measures are introduced to ensure their security and welfare”.

Borno

The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) has denied media reports alleging desecration of the Muslim Holy Book, the Qur’an, by its personnel in Maiduguri.

JTF Field Commander, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, said in a statement in Maiduguri on Monday that the allegation was untrue.

“The JTF wishes to draw the attention of the public to media reports alleging that some of its personnel abused the Holy Qur’an during operations in Maiduguri.

“The allegation was untrue as the JTF investigated the claim and found it to be false. It is an attempt by members of the Boko Haram sect and their collaborators trying to look for sympathy from members of the public as the curfew imposed have checkmated their excesses,” Ebhaleme said.

FCT

The Senate has passed the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendments) Act 2012, increasing the retirement age of staff in the professorial cadre in the universities from 65 to 70 years.

The law specifies that an academic staff who retires as a professor in a recognised university shall be entitled to pension at a rate equivalent to his annual salary.

The Act, however, fixed the retirement age of other academic and non-academic staff at 65 years.

The passage of the bill followed third reading and Senate’s approval of the report of the Senate Committee on Education.

Gombe

Police in Gombe State have swung into action to unravel the mystery surrounding the killing of Pastor Yahaya Abutu, a cleric at Bajoga in the state’s Funakaye Local Government Area.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Gombe command, ASP Ahmed Mohammed, disclosed this Tuesday during an interview with newsmen in Gombe.

He said however that he was yet to get the details of how Abutu died.

The police spokesman nonetheless gave assurances that he would release details of police findings as soon as they had completed their investigations.

Jigawa

The Chairman, Yankwashi Local Government in Jigawa, Alhaji Musa Karkarna, said he had spent N206 million on the construction of feeder roads from 2008 to date.

Karkarna told newsmen in Yankwashi on Thursday that the council spent N90 million to construct the 7.5-km Batatsaba-Dunbu-Ringim Road while the Yawara-Gangara Road was constructed with N37 million.

The chairman said that N68 million was spent on the second phase of the 12.7-km Yawara-Furji Road.

According to him, the 1.5-km Murde-Unguwamagaji Road, which was awarded at N11 million, has yet to be completed.

Karkarna noted that the roads were constructed to enable farmers to transport their produce easily to the markets and boost socio-economic activities in the council area.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government has stopped the payment of allowances to members of committees set up to oversee some government activities.

The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Sa’idu Adamu, announced this on Wednesday in Kaduna after the state’s Executive Council meeting.

Adamu explained that the policy was aimed at reducing the cost of governance occasioned by dwindling revenue.

He said that funds saved from such allowances, would be used to provide infrastructure for the development of the state.

Katsina

The Police in Funtua, Katsina State, on Monday shot dead two suspected armed robbers, and sources said the action followed a tip-off by one of their victims.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Katsina State Police Command, ASP Ibrahim Abubakar, told newsmen that the duo were part of a six-man gang that engaged the police in a shootout.

He said that the men were shot on the Funtua-Zaria road, which they blocked at about 1 a.m., adding that it was one of their victims who escaped and reported their actvity to the police.

Abubakar said that the four other robbers fled into the bush with gun shot wounds, but that a search for them had begun.

Kebbi

The Kebbi Government has spent N15 billion on the upgrading of secondary and technical schools in the state within the last five years.

A statement by the Press Secretary to the governor, Alhaji Abubakar Mu’azu, in Birnin Kebbi on Monday, indicated that N9.8 billion of the amount was spent on the provision of boarding facilities in 50 schools.

It also stated that 67 new junior secondary schools were established by the government at a cost of one billion naira naira, while N2.7 billion was used to construct five new science secondary schools.

Lagos

A former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Mr Waheed Kadiri, has said that the sector may not record significant progress in 2012 due to the current state of the economy.

Kadiri told newsmen in Lagos on Thursday that work on old projects might also be suspended for an upward review in their initial cost of construction.

Until the issue of fuel subsidy is sorted out, much should not be expected from the real estate industry in 2012, he said.

Osun

The Osun command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

on Monday said it arrested 196 suspected drug traffickers in the state between January and December 2011.

The state Commander of the agency, Mrs Anthonia Ndu, told newsmen in Osogbo that 52 of the offenders had been convicted.

Ndu said the trial of other suspects were still ongoing at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.

She added that 3,162.81 kilogramme of cannabis sativa popularly called Indian hemp, 700 grammes of psychotropic substances and 5.1 grammes of cocaine were seized from the suspects during the period.

The commander said that more than 43 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed, while four vehicles used for transporting the illicit weed were seized.

Plateau

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Plateau on Monday commended residents of the state over their peaceful conduct throughout the NLC nationwide protests.

The NLC had called for street protests to force the Federal Government to revert to the old fuel pump price of N65 per litre.

The price of the commodity had gone up to between N138 and N150 after government removed subsidy on fuel from Jan 1.

While people in other states took to the streets, residents of Plateau remained calm and opted to rather sit at home to observe the strike.

NOA State Director, Mr Musa Chantu, who made the commendation, while briefing newsmen on Monday in Jos, described the conduct of Plateau residents as very unique.

Zamfara

Some residents of Gusau say they are happy with the suspension of the strike called by the NLC, recounting the hardship they went through during the period of the strike.

The residents expressed their reaction on Monday immediately after the organised labour announced it was calling off the strike.

The strike had begun on January 9 after government announced it was removing its subsidy on fuel pump price and fuel stations hiked the product’s price to N141 per litre.

Yahaya Umar, a journalist, said the strike caused him and others untold hardship because movement was restricted.

Another respondent, Ijeoma Ekeuhia, said the fuel subsidy removal almost put her out of business as a hair stylist.

Ekeuhia said the cost of materials used in carrying out her business had also increased, thereby causing a rise in the cost of services rendered to customers.

Nation

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

Published

4 days 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.