Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

February 3, 2012

Adamawa

The Adamawa Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, on Tuesday presented the state budget of N97.9 billion for the 2012 fiscal year for approval by the House of Assembly.

The budget estimate is made up of N38.5 billion from statutory allocation, N7.5 billion from value added tax, and N8.1 billion from excess crude oil, with N28.9 capital receipt and N6.7 from internally generated revenue.

Fintiri said that in order to utilise the budget estimate judiciously, government had proposed N87.9 billion for expenditure, out of which N17.3 billion was earmarked for personal emolument, and N22.9 billion for overhead costs, while N4.9 billion was being expected as consolidated revenue.

He said the balance of N42.5 billion was earmarked for capital projects and programmes.

Fintiri attributed the sharp rise in the budget estimate to the increase in minimum wage as well as the recent recruitment exercise in the civil service and post primary school management board.

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government says it will establish farm centres in its three senatorial zones to encourage the involvement of youths in agricultural productions.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Tasiu Mohammad, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.

He said that the farm centres, to cost about N2 billion, would generate nearly 6,000 jobs in three locations.

He said that the centres would complement the state government’s efforts at empowering the youths through various cooperative societies established for such purposes.

Mohammad said that already, work had commenced at the farm centres and the programmes would begin once funds from the 2012 budget were released.

The commissioner said that the criteria for youths to benefit from the scheme were through registering with a cooperative society.

Ekiti

Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has condoled with the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Abubakar, over the death of his wife, Hajia Mariam Abubakar.

Fayemi, in a letter addressed to the acting IGP, urged him to take consolation in the fact that she lived a good life.

“I received with rude shock the news of the death of your dear wife, Hajia Mariam Abubakar, who died on Monday.

“Her death, at this crucial time, is very unfortunate, but I hope you will take consolation in the fact that she lived a good life,’’ he said.

He prayed God to give the IGP and the entire family the fortitude to bear the great loss.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Ekiti State, please accept our deep condolence on this irreparable loss and may her gentle soul rest in peace,’’ he added.

FCT

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Nnamdi Okorie-Affia has said that corps members will henceforth be posted to four key areas for their primary assignments.

Okorie-Affia said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

“Under the new policy, the posting of corps members will focus primarily in the following key sectors: rural health, education, infrastructure and agriculture,’’ the statement said.

It said the new policy was aimed at making the scheme more responsive to the development needs of the country.

According to the statement, the policy will take effect with the incoming batch ‘A‘ and will ensure effective and efficient use of the corps members.

The statement noted that the skills of corps members would fast-track the nation’s socio-economic transformation.

It said that the new posting policy would enhance equitable distribution of corps members and re-energise the objectives of the scheme.

Gombe

The Gombe State Government has signed a contract worth N4.1 billion with a Chinese firm for the provision of water to Gombe metropolis and its environs.

Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday in Gombe, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo said the contract was for the reticulation and rehabilitation of the Gombe Township Water pipelines and the extension of the scheme to Kwami, Gadam and Bojude villages.

He said the network of pipelines would cover a distance of about 150 km across Bagadaza, Riyad, Madaki, Hammadu Kafi, Kagarawal, Tunfure and Tudun Wada Pantami areas in the metropolis.

Some other new areas to benefit from the project, he said, included Gabukka, New GRA, Arawa, Checheniya and Kanoyel “because the pipelines in those areas were old”.

Dankwambo said the project became necessary in view of the influx of people to the state due to its commercial activities, adding that the completion period for the project was 18 months.

Katsina

The Katsina Government has earmarked N4.2 billion for water supply in the state this fiscal year.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Jamilu Muhammad, made the announcement on Monday in Katsina while defending the ministry’s 2012 budget before the Katsina State House of Assembly Appropriation Committee.

Muhammad said that the amount would be spent on urban water supply project, semi-urban water scheme and rural water supply in the state.

He said that the government would resuscitate dams in each of the three senatorial districts in the state before the end of the year.

The commissioner said that the dams would provide drinking water for both animals and human beings, noting that the project would also enhance irrigation activities and provide employment opportunities for the people.

Lagos

A 26-year-old woman, Mrs Sandra Agofure, has begged an Ikeja High Court in Lagos to free her husband, Lucky Agofure, who is standing trial for alleged murder.

Sandra was testifying before Justice Lateefat Okunnu at the ongoing trial of her husband, who allegedly murdered one Princewill Oduocha on February 6, 2010 in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The witness, who was being led in evidence by Agofure’s lawyer, Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku, said the accused was innocent of the charge preferred against him.

She claimed that Agofure and the deceased were friends, adding that he was not responsible for his death.

Sandra said: “On that fateful day, my husband and Princewill had a quarrel over a N1, 000 debt being owed him by my husband.

Niger

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said on Monday that the State Government is to establish a security outfit to complement the efforts of the police and other security agencies in protecting lives and property in the state.

Aliyu made the announcement when he received the Igbo Community and other non-indigenes residing in the state in his office in Minna.

“Tomorrow there will be a public hearing by the Niger State House of Assembly on a bill for a law to establish Niger State Vigilante so that in every ward we will have a vigilante that will complement the police and other security forces in the state,” he said.

Sokoto

PDP chieftain in Sokoto State, Alhaji Abdullah Bafarawa has canvassed for dialogue between the Federal Government and members of the ‘Boko Haram’ sect, as a way of resolving the nation’s present security challenges.

Bafarawa gave the advice while answering questions from newsmen at the Sultan Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto.

‘I strongly advocate a political forum where dialogue will take place between the Federal Government and members of the sect in enhancing peaceful co-existence among Nigerians,” he said.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government has given hawkers three months ultimatum to leave the streets or face the full wrath of the law.

The Director of Environment in the state, Mr Solomon Guruza, gave the warning while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday.

“The government will not return goods seized; we have given them three months notice to leave the roads. At the expiration of the ultimatum, government will rid the streets of the presence of illegal traders.”

Yobe

A guard with the Church of Christ in Nigeria, Mr. Baba, was on Sunday evening murdered after church service in Potiskum, Yobe State. Garba was said to be a Karekare man from Kopkop village in Daigubi area of Potiskum.

His killing came on the heels of allegations by the Cooirdinator of a non-governmental organisation, Stetanos Foundation, Mr. Mark Lipdo, that indiscriminate and selective killings, mostly targeted at Christians, were still going on in Yobe State.

Our correspondent learnt that 62-year-old Garba was murdered by two young men on a motorcycle, who trailed him to his house located east of Potiskum barracks after church service. The killers were said to have waited for Garba in front of his house and on sighting him, shot him at point-blank range.

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.