Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

May 24, 2012

Bauchi

The Igbo community in Bauchi on Monday inaugurated an 11-member executive officers to run the affairs of the association.

The executive members were inaugurated following an election on Sunday.

The new officials include, Mr Hitler Umesiri as President-General while Mr Di Nkwacha and Mr Chukuta Chidi would serve as vice president and secretary, respectively.

In his remarks, Umesiri said the newly-elected officers would work towards promoting unity and project positive image of Igbo community in the state.

Benue

The General Manager, Benue Environmental Sanitation Agency, Mr Akpa Ediga, has warned Makurdi residents against refuse dumping into drains.

Ediga told newsmen on Tuesday in Makurdi that the act of dumping refuse into water canals caused flooding, especially whenever it rained.

Ediga said that the agency was not resting on its oars in clearing the drains but appealed to residents to support the efforts toward ensuring a clean and safe environment for all.

He said that such refuse heaps were responsible for flooding and traffic congestion during the rainy season.

Borno

One person was killed after gunmen attacked Benisheikh police station, near Maiduguri, on Sunday night, the police said in a statement on Monday.

The Commissioner of Police in Borno, Alhaji Bala Hassan, said in the statement that the gunmen launched an attack at the station around 7p.m but were repelled by policemen on duty.

“When the situation became tense, a reinforcement was sought from the crack unit close by. The attackers were repelled but they used a rocket launcher to attack the building, which destroyed part of the structure,” Hassan said.

He said the attackers also hit an armoured car with the launcher destroying the windscreen.

FCT

A cross section of indigenes of Galadimawa village in Abuja have alleged plans by a private property developer, Mesotho Nigeria Ltd., to eject them.

the leader of the Concerned Indigenes in Galadimawa, Mr Solomon Donaye, made this known in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that the company and the village head, Chief Tanko Zhnimko, had approached some of them to come for compensation.

“We have refused to be compensated owing to the fact the government has agreed to properly resettle and compensate us.’’

Ekiti

A Non-Governmental Organisation in Ekiti, Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE), has expressed concern over the neglect of the rural areas in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The body said that the rural dwellers should have been considered in the litany of sensitisation programmes being organised by government and private bodies on preventive measures that could curb the spread of the dreaded scourge.

The coordinator of the body, Mr Oluwafemi Julius, made the statement in Imesi-Ekiti while distributing relief materials to some people living with HIV/AIDS.

Gombe

Some residents of Dule-Falam community in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State have appealed to the state government to check the indiscriminate packing of sand in the area for construction purpose.

Some farmers, who spoke to newsmen in Gombe, said that the practice by truck drivers had led to serious erosion and the washing away of their farms.

One of the respondents, Alhaji Sale Tinka, said that erosion had disrupted his plan to develop the area into a farm house to supply cow milk and other farm produce.

Tinka also said that some cows had died and that several complaints to the government on the matter had not yielded any good result.

Kadunaa

Workers of tertiary institutions in Kaduna State on Monday suspended their two-week-old strike.

The Chairman of the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions, Mr Abashiya Aniggo, directed his colleagues to resume work immediately, saying the suspension followed the intervention of the state House of Assembly and other stakeholders.

Aniggo commended the legislature, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, and other patriotic citizens for their mediation.

The Majority Leader of the House and chairman of the adhoc mediation committee, Mr David Umar, commended the leadership and members of the union for their respect, maturity and understanding in suspending the action.

Kano

Two persons, a man and a woman, suspected to be lovers, were found dead inside a car in the premises of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

The Public Relations Officer of the Hospital, Alhaji Aminu Inuwa, told newsmen in Kano on Tuesday that the man, Sani Aliyu and the woman, Nadiya Abdu were found dead in the hospital’s premises.

He said they were discovered at about 6.30 p.m. on Monday.

Inuwa said that the car in which they died was parked around the Power House parking lot of the hospital and that they were found after their corpses had started decomposing.

Kwara

The Kwara Government has spent N1 billion on water reticulation of Ilorin metropolis to end the shortage of water supply.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Idris Abubakar, said this on Monday at an inter-ministerial briefing on the activities of his ministry in the past one year.

According to him, pipe laying network of Ilorin metropolis is near completion while other phases of the water reticulation will be completed by the contractor to ease water problem in the state.

He also said that all water works in the state had been rehabilitated, while 40 boreholes had been sunk in the three senatorial districts to meet the government agenda of water provision to the people.

Lagos

Two women, suspected to be drug traffickers, have been arrested in Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The agency’s spokesman, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement, in Lagos on Tuesday.

The statement said that the suspects, who are between ages 24 years and 25 years, were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

It said that one of the suspects, who claimed to be a hair stylist, was caught with one kilogramme of methamphetamine hidden in her inner wear.

Nasarawa

Nasarawa State Teachers’ Service Commission has ter-minated the appointment of three secondary school teachers in the state over financial improprieties.

This is contained in a statement issued by the chairman of the commission, Alhaji Abubakar Kana on Monday in Lafia.

The statement said the teachers were found to be collecting salaries from the state ministry of education as well as various local governments.

According to the statement, the affected teachers are Alaku Obile, from Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Lafia, found to be collecting salary from the ministry and Doma Local Government, and Musa Danladi of Government Resettlement Secondary School Ukya-Toto.

Ondo

Market women in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to the state government to intensify efforts at developing the rural communities in the state.

The Leader of Ilaje Market Women, Mrs Bamijoko Akinyemi, said in Igbokoda on Tuesday that more development was needed in rural areas to reduce rural-urban drift.

She said that some communities in the state were yet to feel the impact of the ‘caring heart’ of Gov. Olusegun Mimiko.

“For us in Ilaje, our case is different as we have felt his impact through the “Ise Takun Takun” as he has built the best among the standard markets for us. “We are proud to say that we have benefitted immensely from the administration of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko,’’ she said.

Ogun

The Ogun Government on Monday directed the proprietors of illegal schools to register with the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology on or before July 31.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Education, Mr Segun Odubela in Abeokuta.

Odubela said the State Government would seal their premises if the school owners failed to comply with the directive.

He noted that a recent survey revealed that no fewer than 1000 schools had been operating illegally in the state.

Oyo

The Oyo State Government says the ban placed on the activities of the NURTW in the state is still in force.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Bosun Oladele,said this on Monday while briefing newsmen at the end of the weekly State Executive Council meeting in Ibadan.

Oladele said that anything done in the name of the union in any of the garages in the state was illegal.

This, he said, was because the white paper on the report submitted by the panel which investigated the crisis in the union had not been released.

The commissioner warned those parading themselves as the new executive members of the union to desist from doing so, adding that government would deal decisively with anyone found to be threatening the existing peaceful atmosphere in the state.

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.