Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

January 25, 2012

Adamawa

Dry season famers in Adamawa State have predicted poor harvest in the state following the hike in the price of petrol.

President Goodluck Jonathan has announced a new fuel pump price of N97 as against the deregulated price of N141.

The announcement of the deregulation of the petoleum downstream sector triggered a six-day strike by the organised labour and the civil society groups, to protest the policy.

The state chairman of the Dry Season Farmers Association, Alhaji Adamu Dan Wazam,told newsmen in Yola that the high cost of fuel was threatening dry season farming.

Dan Wazam, who is also the chairman of vegetable dealers in the state, said that some farmers were no longer paying adequate attention to their farms due to their inability to fuel their water pumps to irrigate their farms.

“Many vegetables, fruit, rice and maize farms have been affected and about 90 per cent of our dry season farmers who depend on small petrol water pumps to irrigate their farms, were also affected.

“Report reaching us from our members across the state is that some of the farmers are losing interest in the business.”

Bauchi

A North-East based political pressure group, Democrats for Good Governance (DFGG), has unanimously endorsed former Bauchi State Governor Adamu Mu’azu for the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This is contained in a communiqué signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the group, Yusha’u Bala and Chief A D Musa respectively on Monday in Bauchi.

The NGO urged Nigerians to begin to look at the past and positive track records of performance of their leaders to enable them select a credible leader.

The group commended the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and host of others from the North-East, for their contribution to the development of the country.

It urged members of the party and the North East region to give Mu’azu, who it described as “the only aptly qualified person to hold the post of PDP National Chairman,” another chance.

Benue

The Benue Police Command has paraded 39 suspected armed robbers, car thieves and cultists accused of terrorising innocent people in the state.

Parading the suspects in Makurdi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the suspected criminals were arrested at different locations within the state in the last one month.

Ibrahim, who commended the police for making the arrests, assured Benue citizens that no stone would be left unturned in their resolve to rid the state of criminals.

He said that three of the suspected robbers, who allegedly attacked and robbed a catholic priest of the sum of N340,000 at Katsina Ala on December 26, 2011, were arrested.

The deputy commissioner said that the police were committed to flushing out all armed gangs from the state.

Ibrahim, therefore, called on the people to support the police in tracking down criminals by volunteering information that would lead to their arrests.

Ekiti

Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has defended his decision to appoint indigenes of the state from abroad into his cabinet, saying it was aimed at facilitating the transformation agenda of his administration.

“I will continue to search for Ekiti people wherever they may be to help in the transformation agenda of the administration.”

Speaking while administering the oath of office on two Special Advisers, Messrs Olufemi Tolani (Public Private Partnership), and Dare Tolulope (Legal Matters) on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi advised critics of his administration to stop describing such appointees from abroad as foreigners.

He said every community in the state had “excellent and great people” in top positions across the globe in the private sectors, who would be brought to the state “to foster robust governance and deliver dividends of democracy to the people”.

FCT

The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has appealed to the National Assembly to ensure that the Nigeria Police is provided with all its logistic requirements.

PCRC Chairman, Gwagwalada Abuja Branch, Prof . Chikwendu Williams, made the appeal on Monday in Abuja in an intreview with newsmen.

He said that Police Area Command, Gwagwalada, lacked patrol vans, noting that the cammand could not respond to emergencies.

Williams said that vehicles currently in use by the command, needed to be serviced, while their tyres required replacement.

He said that the police needed to be properly equipped, especially during this period of great security challenge in the country.

Williams appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to assist solve the mobility problems of the police.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has began the assessment of the performance of the 2011 budget, the House Committee Chairman on Information, Yakubu Yusuf has said.

Yusuf told newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday that the legislators would not pass the 2012 budget proposal if they were not satisfied with the performance of last year’s budget.

He explained that the budget assessment was a constitutional requirement for the legislature before considering the current budget estimates.

According to him, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and projects will be visited to enable members to have first hand knowledge of their performance in 2011.

Kogi

A non-governmental organisation, the National Youth Leaders’ Forum of Nigeria, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the step he took in reviewing the petrol pump price from N141 to N97.

The forum’s president, Mr Ben Oduntoye who gave the commendation in Lokoja on Monday, said it was quite courageous of Jonathan to have fixed the price at N97 after due consultations.

He therefore appealed to Nigerians to embrace peace by accepting the federal government’s position in the best interest of the masses.

“We have to do this, because there were neither winners nor losers in the negotiation,’’ Oduntoye said.

Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said that it had arrested a 32-year-old man with 7.1 kg of liquid cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.

In a statment by its spokesman, Mr Mitchel Ofoyeju, NDLEA said that the drug was intercepted during the screening of passengers that arrived on an Emirate flight from Brazil, en route Dubai on Monday.

Niger

Niger government, on Wednesday assured victims of the recent violence which erupted in Minna over the removal of fuel subsidy, that it would offer adequate compensation to them.

Chairman of the 13-man committee set up by the government to investigate the matter, Alhaji Yahayah Dansallau, gave the asurance in Minna after visiting some of the victims.

“We have seen government and private properties that were destroyed, including individuals who sustained injuries.

“The responsibility of our committee is to assess what has happened and make recommendations to the state government, and our assessment is on-going.

“After our recommendations the government will take a decision on how to come in and compensate the victims, including the public institutions affected’’, he said.

Ogun

Sellers of sachet water in Abeokuta are recording a boom due to the scarcity of water in the Ogun capital, our correspondent reports.

Our correspondent, who monitored the development on Monday, reports that most residents have resorted to the use of sachet water to cook, bath and for other domestic chores.

The situation has increased the demand for sachet water and consquently the price.

Some residents, who spoke to newsmen, attributed the development to the inability of staff of Ogun Water Board to function, due to the sit-at-home strike declared by the NLC.

Mrs Adeola Adeyemi, a trader, said, “I now buy pure water at N10 per sachet instead of N5.

Ondo

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has in Akure released N58 million to 52 farmers executing projects under the Fadama III programme.

The farmers were drawn from the various Fadama Community Associations in the 17 local government areas of the state.

The cheques were presented to the beneficiaries in Akure by Mr Ademola Olorunfemi, the Commissioner for Agriculture, who represented the governor.

Mimiko said that the government had so far released N224 million for the scheme, noting that 97 Fadama Community

Associations and Fadama Users Group, had earlier received N166.5 million from the state government.

Sokoto

The Sokoto Zonal office of the Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR), has closed down 11 filling stations in Sokoto metropolis for selling petrol above the approved price of N 97 per litre.

The Controller, Alhaji Umaru Moriki, told newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday that, two of the filling stations were owned by major marketers while the nine others belong to independent marketers.

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.