Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

March 29, 2012

Borno

Farmers in Maiduguri metropolis have appealed to the Joint Task Force (JTF) to review the curfew imposed in some parts of the state to enable them perform their farming activities.

A cross section of those, who spoke to newsmen in Maiduguri and Jere local government areas on Tuesday said that the curfew had negatively affected farming activities.

The JTF on Operation Restore Order (ORO) had on January 12, imposed a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in five of the 27 local government areas of the state to curtail the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

Malam Ibrahim Audu, a farmer in Zabarmari, said that the curfew had made it difficult for farmers to operate optimally in the farm.

FCT

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to inter-religious harmony for peace and development in the country.

Vice President Namadi Sambo said this in Abuja when he received the Prefect, Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue (PCID), His Eminence, Jean Louis Card Tauran, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the government supports every synergy among religious organisations as this will enhance peaceful co-existence of the diverse groups in the country.

He assured the Pontifical Prefect of the government’s support, saying: “I want to assure you that we will give you all the support you need in the achievement of all your noble objectives in ensuring that there is peace and harmony in Nigeria and the world in general.”

Gombe

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has assured corps members deployed to the state that their security and welfare would be taken care of by the government.

He gave the assurance at the close of the 2012 Batch ‘A’ NYSC orientation course at Malam-sidi Permanent Orientation Camp in Kwami Local Government Area of the State in which 446 corps members passed out.

Dankwambo, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Tha’anda Rubainu, however, advised corps members to identify with the people in the state and their aspirations for the service to be successful.

In his remarks, Mr Eli Akeme, the Head of the Civil Service in the state and Chairman of the Governing Council of NYSC, said the corps members were fully ready and eager to contribute their quarter to the development of their host communities.

Jigawa

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has charged batch “A” of the NYSC members posted to the state to rededicate their energies towards the unity of the nation.

Lamido was speaking at the parade/official closing ceremony of the orientation course for the members in Dutse.

He described “ youths as the vanguard of peace, unity and development of any society. “

He enjoined them to be committed, resilient and dedicated to their work in the various places of their primary assignments.

“As you are set out to begin your primary assignment, it is pertinent for you to reflect on the basic fundamental rudiments in which the orientation course was predicated. “

He explained that, the NYSC programme was designed to give members exposure and make them exhibit leadership qualities in their various communities after they finished the service.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State chapter of NULGE has urged the Kaduna State Government to reverse recent redeployment of working mothers in Kaduna North and Kaduna South local Government Areas.

About 350 workers in the affected areas were transferred to 21 other local government areas in the state due to the inability of the councils to pay workers’ salary.

The state President of NULGE, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, told newsmen in Kaduna that, the call became necessary as married women could not work in places far away from their families.

He said that such transfers would reduce the affected workers’ performance as their attention would be divided.

Abubakar said that although the exercise was legal, it should consider issues of health and marriage.

Kebbi

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has directed producers of packaged water in Kebbi to re-register their companies in line with new strategies to improve quality.

The directive was issued on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi by Dr. Eric Iful, the agency’s North-West zonal coordinator at a sensitisation workshop for packaged water producers in the state

He told participants that the compulsory re-registration was to enable NAFDAC to capture the bio-metric data of all clients for monitoring and evaluation towards good manufacturing practices.

Iful observed that 8,679 water packaging factories had failed to register with NAFDAC, adding, “the exercise will assist to overcome myriad of problems in the production of healthy packaged water”.

Lagos

A property consultant, Chief Kola Akomolede, has said that the worsening security situation in Nigeria might cripple the hospitality and leisure industry if not checked.

He told newsmen in Lagos that the spate of bombing and shooting could discourage tourists from coming to Nigeria.

“Even Nigerians are being discouraged from visiting certain parts of the country other than their own community,’’ he said.

Akomolede said that the hospitality and leisure industry were very important to national development because of the potentials as good source of foreign exchange earnings.

He said that opportunities abound in hospitality industries in Nigeria due to shortage of hotels and places of leisure.

The consultant said that very few cities in Nigeria could host major international events due to shortage of good hotels.

Akomolede urged the Federal Government to address the security challenges promptly.

“Besides the security issues, Nigeria is a potential tourist attraction, it’s just that we are not developing them,’’ he said.

Nasarawa

The Police in Nasarawa State has confirmed the killing of a suspected motorcycle snatcher by irate youths on Monday at Ajaga village in Nasarawa Local Government Area.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Cornelius Ocholi, told newsmen in Lafia that the suspect, Bala Bawa, from Arah village allegedly snatched a motorcycle from one Ibrahim Hassan.

Ocholi said that Bawa snatched the motorcycle after beating Hassan to a state of coma.

He noted that villagers got wind of the incident and reported to the police in the area, which led to the arrest and detention of the suspect.

He said that youths in the area mobilised themselves and stormed the police post where the suspect was being detained, over powered the men on duty, dragged out the suspect and beat him to death.

The spokesman noted that the officers on duty contacted the Nasarawa Divisional Headquarters, which is about 30 kilometres away but that before the reinforcement could reach the police post, the mob had already killed the suspect and fled.

Ondo

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has appealed to security agencies in the country to always uphold their constitutional role of supporting free, fair and credible elections at all times.

The governor stated this in Akure while playing host to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ameen Ikioda.

According to him, security agencies have crucial roles to play in sustaining the existing unity and stability of the country.

Mimiko also advised security agencies against being used by unscrupulous politicians “who are selfish and anti-people in their inordinate ambition to govern at all cost. ’’

“The role of security agencies is crucial to peace, unity and stability of our great country. Therefore, I want to plead with you to make sure that elections are free and fair in this country,” he said.

Mimiko further said his administration had implemented programmes and policies aimed at tackling poverty in the state.

He said the state’s healthcare programme, construction of mega schools and rural transformation initiatives were all targeted at the downtrodden in the society.

Plateau

Eggs mopped up following a glut in Plateau are being hurriedly distributed to some categories of people as some of them have rotten away.

Source said that the state government set up a committee, and released N30 million to buy off the eggs following farmers’ inability to dispose of them on time, especially in Chad Republic, as a result of recent border closure.

However, the eggs are being distributed by the committee after the bad ones have been removed.

Mrs Olivia Dazyam, Women Affairs Commissioner, who is in charge of the distribution of the eggs, however, confirmed that the eggs were already being hurriedly shared out.

“We are sharing 500 crates to patients and nursing mothers at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos. We shall thereafter move to orphanage homes and special schools,’’ she told newsmen.

She regretted the undue delay and attributed it to efforts to ensure that only the targeted groups benefited.

Some eggs were purchased two weeks ago with farmers who said that they were three weeks old at the time of purchase.

Information Commissioner Abraham Yiljab, had blamed the poor demand on the closure of borders with Chad that had always purchased the commodity in bulk.

According to Barko, the committee is expected to purchase 50,000 crates for distribution to students, expectant mothers, the sick and the elderly.

Yobe

The Yobe Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS (YOSACA) has observed that regular clinic attendance by expectant mothers and the voluntary HIV testing have reduced mother and child deaths in the state.

“The agency has enlightened, mobilised and encouraged pregnant women across the state to access the free ante-natal services and HIV tests provided in government hospitals,” the Executive Secretary of the agency, Hajiya Farida Mamudo told newsmen in Damaturu.

“YOSACA has trained 40 Traditional Birth Attendants in seven Local Government Areas specifically on referring pregnant women to ante-natal clinics and on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Mamudo commended the role played by traditional rulers, religious leaders and other organisations in combating HIV and AIDS as well as stigmatisation in communities.

“This collaborative effort combined with government’s determination is yielding positive results in healthcare delivery in the state,” she said.

Zamfara

The Zamfara Government has promised to provide adequate security for youth corps members posted to the state.

Governor Abdulaziz Yari made the promise during the graduation ceremony of the three-week orientation of Batch ‘A‘ youth corps members at the Tsafe NYSC camp, where he was represented by the Head of Service, Alhaji Bello Umar.

The governor said government was doing “everything possible” to ensure that the corps members were given adequate protection to enable them discharge their assignment without hindrance.

He noted that insecurity in the country had posed a major challenge not only to government but all peace-loving Nigerians.

He asked them to conduct themselves, and be dedicated in their places of primary assignment.

He said that efforts were on to rejuvenate the Sharia legal system although enforcement of its law would be applied to Muslims only.

He also pledged to complete the NYSC permanent orientation camp at Tsafe which was started five years ago by the previous administration.

Nation

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

Published

3 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

1 month 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

1 month 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.