Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

March 12, 2012

Bauchi

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), says it will partner with the private sector to fast-track the development of historical and social monuments in the country.

The Director-General of the commission, Malam Yusuf Usman, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen.

He said the participation of the private sector would complement government’s funding towards the maintenance of the monuments.

Usman explained that government was providing the enabling environment that would make the private sector to take the maintenance of monuments and museums as a social responsibility.

“It is true that there is no much money that is provided for the maintenance of monuments across the country. But what government does is to provide some funding – that is seed money, to be able to generate interest among the private sector who can come in to participate in the maintenance of this important national edifices.

“So, we are hopeful that the private sector will join us to do this especially where it can be a form of their social responsibility since private sector is about profit and our monument and heritage resources are not for profit in terms of naira and kobo but in terms of the value that they add to our wellbeing as a people.’’

Benue

President Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned N2.6 billion water plant in Otobi, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue.

In his speech at the occasion, the President commended Governor Gabriel Suswam for establishing water projects in the state.

He said such projects would not only assist in reducing the incidence of water borne diseases, but would also address the water and health needs of the cluster communities they were meant to serve.

“More than 30 per cent diseases are water borne and by the construction of this water project, you have solved not only the water needs of the people, but also taken care of their health needs,” Jonathan said.

Earlier, Gov. Suswam, who conducted the President round the site of the project, said the construction of the water plant was in fulfillment of his campaign promises to the people.

FCT

Chairman, Abaji Area Council of the FCT, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed on Thursday advised residents to ensure clean environment by evacuating waste and materials that could harbour rats in their houses.

Mohammed gave the advice in Abaji at the opening of a community awareness sensitisation programme on the prevention of Lassa fever organised by the council.

The council boss, who was represented by Dr Basil Magaji, Head of Health Department, said the awareness programme became necessary following reported cases of outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country.

He said the programme was part of the council’s commitment to ensure clean environment and healthy living among residents.

Mohammed called on residents to take advantage of health facilities across the wards in the council, meant for routine immunisation to prevent the six child-killer diseases.

Kaduna

The Polio Technical Consultant to the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr Zikrullah Giwa, said last week that Nigeria recorded four cases of wild polio virus in the past 10 weeks

Giwa who made this known at a meeting in a forum in Kaduna, said the cases were recorded in Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno and Zamfara states.

“In 2012, Nigeria has four cases of wild polio virus in four states compared to four cases in three states for the same period in 2011.’’

According to him, the current National Epidemiology the country recorded 62 cases of the wild polio virus in 2011 in eight states.

Giwa stated that the total number of “circulating vaccine derived polio virus’’ (cVDPV2) was 35 in 10 states of the federation in 2011.

“In 2012, Nigeria has zero cVDPV2 compared to five cases in four states for the same period.”

Kebbi

A prominent member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Kebbi, Alhaji Adullahi Muslim, has returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Muslim was registered along with 1,500 supporters on Thursday at the Nasarawa Ward by the PDP Ward Chairman, Alhaji Bande Mainama.

Muslim was a member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the PDP between 1999 and 2011and later defected to the CPC.

He said his decision to return to the PDP was due to lack of internal democracy in CPC.

“I was disowned by CPC through a court affidavit.”

He explained that he was back into the PDP in order to contribute his quota to the socio- economic development of the state.

Kwara

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has promised to effectively use the excess crude oil funds to develop the infrastructure in the state.

Represented by his Deputy, Mr Peter Kishira, the governor made the promise at the flag-off of the 2012 Excess Crude Oil Funds projects held at Share.

He said that the funds would be channeled to priority areas of need “for the sustenance of our people and communities’’.

According to the governor, the funds would also be utilised to reposition all the local governments areas and to develop water project, power generation, schools, health, road networks, youth empowerment, agriculture, scholarship and traditional institution.

Kogi

The immediate-past Chief Whip of the Kogi House of Assembly, Alhaji Suleiman Babadoko, has denied hatching plots to impeach the Speaker, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello.

Addressing newsmen in Lokoja last Babadoko, who represents Lokoja 1 Constituency, dismissed as unfounded, the allegation that he held discussions with four principal officers of the house to perfect plans for the removal of the Speaker.

He explained that his meeting with the principal officers centred on how to rally support for the state governor, Capt. Idris Wada, to stabilise the new administration.

The lawmaker said he took the step to ward off plans by the opposition to pressurise INEC to conduct fresh governorship

Lagos

Some lawyers in Lagos have called for the involvement of more women in the judicial activities.

The lawyers made the call as part of the activities marking the International Women‘s Day.

The Day is marked worldwide on March 8 every year, to celebrate the political, social and economic achievements of women.

Nasarawa

The traditional ruler of Doma in Nasarawa, Alhaji Ahmadu Aliyu-Ogah, has urged the people of the area to cut down on the amount of bride price on their daughters to encourage young suitors.

He gave the advice recently while addressing Imams in Doma and its environs

“The minimum amount payable as bride price is N7,660, which is most blessed in the sight of Allah,’’ he declared.

Aliyu-Ogah, who is the Andoma of Doma, said most young men of marriageable age were scared of approaching ladies for marriage because of the high price being demanded by their prospective in-laws.

Niger

Former INEC Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu has called on the National Assembly to ensure the quick passage of the bill that sought to protect traditional medicine and regulate access to genetic resources.

Iwu, who is the Chairman of the Bio-resources Institute of Nigeria, made the appeal during a mini national stakeholders forum on the draft legal document on the Act.

The Act is to provide for “The Protection of Traditional Knowledge Regulation of Access to Genetic Resources and Related Matters”.

He said if the bill was passed into law, it would ensure proper regulation of trado-medicine practice in the country, thus leading to the creation of jobs for millions of Nigerians as well as wealth creation.

Ogun

The Ogun Government says it will provide loans for women to make them financially independent.

Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi, the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, said this at the 101st International Women Day celebration in Abeokuta last Thursday.

“Government has set up loans, empowerment kits and programmes to help empower our women so as to reduce hunger and poverty,” Sonubi said.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, Mrs Olufunsho Amosun, attended the programme.

The programme had as theme: “Uplifting Women: Empowering Rural Women to End Hunger and Poverty.’’

Plateau

Local Government workers in Plateau have accepted to collect half of the N18,000 minimum wage owing to paucity of funds, according to Mr Jibrin Bancir, the state’s Nigeria Labour Congress Chairman.

Bancir told newsmen last Thursday in Jos that the Local Governments have, however, agreed in principle to pay the new wage.

“We have seen the monthly subventions of the councils from the federal allocation and have noticed indeed that the money is not enough to pay the minimum wage.

“What we have agreed with the council managements and the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is that the councils should be paying 50 percent of the increment pending when their revenue status gets better.”

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.