Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

January 4, 2013

Adamawa

Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has

appointed Justice Nathan Musa as the new Acting Chief Judge of the state. At the swearing-in of the Acting Chief Judge in Yola on Monday, Nyako congratulated him on the appointment and urged him to be fair and honest in discharging his duties, he said:

“Your appointment is based on merit, following your successful record in the state judiciary.’’

The governor urged the judiciary to join hands with other arms of government to move the state forward.

Bauchi

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi had called on

Nigerians to pray that the security challenges facing the country should end in 2013.

Yuguda, who made the call recently in his New Year message, said that this would enhance the effort made toward achieving lasting peace in the country.

He called on citizens of Bauchi to make a New Year resolution toward a peaceful co-existence among their brothers and sisters irrespective of religious, cultural or political differences.

“While we usher in the New Year, I urge you to use the occasion to assess your performances in the last one year and pray for better and prosperous 2013.

Benue

Makurdi residents have resolved to pray for God’s

intervention concerning the security challenges facing the country instead of relying on leaders in 2013.

‘Our security is in the hands of the Lord, we would go to him, cry to him, petition him, and appeal to him for the forgiveness of the sins of Nigeria, we know our God, He would never let us down.

“We would serve God wholeheartedly from 1st January 2013 so that he would intervene in our security challenges in the country.

“We would pray so that God will change the minds of our leaders and they would fulfill their promises.”

Ekiti

The police in Ado-Ekiti last Monday arraigned five

men, Sola Bamikole, Adedayo Adedoyin, Seun Awoyemi, Ayo Adeosun and Blessing Adedayo before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ court for allegedly stealing cat fish.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Caleb Leranmo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Dec. 24, at about 4:00 a.m. at Odo-Aremu Sreet, Ado-Ekiti.

Leranmo alleged that the accused unlawfully broke into the beer parlour of one Madam Lucky restaurant and stole fresh cat fish from the pond.

Leranmo said the offence contravened section 390 (g) of the Criminal Code Cap. C 16, Vol. 1 of Ekiti State of Nigeria.

FCT

The Federal Government will save about N300

billion annually on the importation of wheat through the use of 20 per cent cassava flour for bread production.

Mr Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information, announced this on Monday in Abuja at a news conference, while briefing newsmen on the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in 2012.

Maku said the amount spent on wheat importation had so far been brought down by N200 billion following the improvement in the production and processing of cassava flour.

He said the government was exploring agriculture as major area to create jobs and wealth generation.

Gombe

The family of Alhaji Jalo Ganga, the Gombe

lawmaker who was kidnapped on Sunday in Gombe, has resorted to praying and fasting for his release.

The elder brother of the legislator, Alhaji Yayaji Ahmed-Ganga, made this known while speaking with newsmen in Gombe recently.

He said family and friends of the legislator embarked on prayer to seek God’s intervention in the kidnap which had put friends and relations of the legislator in a pathetic situation.

He said the family had not had any communication with their brother and appealed to the kidnappers to release him.

Jigawa

An acute fuel scarcity in Dutse and its surroundings

has left motorists frustrated in long queues at filling stations.

The situation has negatively affected free flow of vehicular and human movement and brought hardship to the people.

Our source, who went round some fuel stations on Tuesday, reports that because of the non-availability of fuel in major filling stations, there are long queues of vehicles at NNPC retail stations which have stocks.

Meanwhile, in the thriving black market, a litre of petrol sold at N150.

Lagos

A Muslim cleric in Epe Local Government Area of

Lagos State, Mr Olademeji Kaka, has urged Muslims and Christians to embrace peace and unity in the new year.

Kaka, who is the Imam of Lagbade Central Mosque, gave the advice recently night in a special prayer, tagged, “Tahajjud Night’’, to mark the end of year 2012.

He called on Muslims and Christians to collectively observe one day of fasting and prayer for the peace and unity of the country.

“Muslims love peace, Islam does not preach violence and we are peaceful people and that is why we are going to use this prayer to pray for the peaceful coexistence of Muslims and our Christian brothers and sisters.

Plateau

Youths protesting against Sunday killing of their

peer by stray bullet in Kuru, near Jos, last Monday destroyed the only bridge in the area.

Capt. Salisu Mustapha, the STF media officer made this known in an interview with newsmen in Jos on Monday.

Mustapha said: “the youths have destroyed one part of the bridge, only one part is passable and vehicles must queue up to take their turns from opposite directions.’’

He confirmed that one youth was hit by a stray bullet on Sunday, but rejected the youths’ position that the bullet was fired by soldiers.

Sokoto

Alhaji Umar Mohammed, the Chairman of Isa

Local Government, Sokoto State, has advised the people to form vigilance groups to assist security agencies in confronting security threats.

Mohammed told newsmen in Sokoto that the agencies needed intelligence reports to apprehend criminals. “

This is greatly important as the system would help in crime prevention. “

The task of ensuring the safety and security of lives and property is a collective duty of all Nigerians,” he added.

Yobe

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe State said four

insurgents had been killed and 59 suspects arrested in an operation in Yindiski area of Potiskum Local Government.

A statement by Lt. Eli Lazarus, JTF spokesman, stated that one policeman died and a soldier, who sustained injury, was receiving treatment.

The statement said “four AK 47 rifles, one double barrel gun, 16 magazines and 380 rounds of ammunitions were recovered’’.

It said other items recovered in the operation included two gas cylinders and materials used for improvised explosive devices.

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.