Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

March 4, 2013

Borno

Borno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has called on local government chairmen in the state to do all within their powers to protect government property in their domain against attacks by Boko Haram.

Speaking, when he visited the Pivot Irrigation project in Konduga, Yumirgo and Gora in the Askira -Uba and Shani Council Areas, the governor charged the 27 caretaker council chairmen in the state to provide security operatives, especially police, civil defence corps and vigilante groups to man all the ongoing and completed projects in their domains.

He disclosed that most attacks on public infrastructure in the state were done by the opposition, stressing that government would not fold its hands and watch.

FCT

An Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court last Thursday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a 38-year-old woman, Safiya Ahamed and her 19-year-old son, Aminu Mohammed for jumping bail.

The two are facing a four-count charge of joint act, criminal force, assault and battery in a case now in its second year.

The accused are alleged to have beaten up their neighbour, Miss Vivian Ani, at their residence at No. 11, Carnival Street, Jikwoyi Phase 1, Abuja, sometime in October 2011.

Senior Magistrate Celestine Odo issued the warrant after the accused failed to appear in court either in person or by proxies for the third time in violation of their bail terms.

Gombe

The National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) is to distribute nine million Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLIN) in three states of the federation for the control of malaria.

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of the NMCP, Mrs. Bilhatu Jarmai, made this known to newsmen in Gombe last Thursday.

Jarmai, who is also the Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association (NIFAA) Focal Person for Malaria, said the nets would be distributed in March in Kogi, Osun and Delta States.

According to her, those states did not get the nets when they were distributed.

Jigawa

Jigawa State Polytechnic last Thursday matriculated 1, 366 students for the 2012/2013 academic session.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Garba Goje, urged the new students to be dedicated to their studies and be obedient to the school’s Authority.

Garba warned that any student that was not serious with his studies would be shown the way out of the institution.

He said that the matriculation was designed to welcome new students to the institution as well as to tell them the rules and regulation of the school.

Kano

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has returned to Kano from the routine medical checkup in the United Kingdom.

Our sources said that the Emir arrived at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on board an aircraft around 7 pm.

Bayero was received on arrival at the Airport by retired Brig.-Gen. Idris Danbazau, the state Commissioner for Special Duties, and other top government officials.

Others who were at the airport were members of the Emirate Council and traditional rulers from the 44 Local Government areas of the state.

Kaduna

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) last Thursday educated cattle breeders on the need to observe safety and road signs to prevent road crashes.

Our sources said that members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the Ministry of Agriculture, and other stakeholders participated in the one-day safety awareness forum.

The Kaduna Sector Commander of FRSC, Corps Commander Olumide Olagunju, said the forum was held to educate Fulani cattle rearers on the need to imbibe the culture of safe road use.

Kogi

A Deputy Political Editor with the Guardian Newspaper, Mr. John Ogbodo, was last Thursday killed in a ghastly motor accident on the Ajaokuta-Anyigba Road in Kogi State.

Ogbodo was travelling in a Siena Space Wagon bus with four other journalists when the accident occurred.

According to reports, the journalists were travelling to Awka, Anambra, to cover the convocation lecture of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University scheduled to be delivered by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ikweremadu.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Garba Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, said the accident occurred at Achijili village, near Ayingba.

Katsina

The annual Katsina State Agricultural Show has been re-introduced after 21 years, the Managing Director, Katsina State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KTARDA), Alhaji Abashe Sa’idu, has said.

Sa’idu, in an interview with newsmen in Katsina last Thursday, said the show, which was last held in 1992, would hold between March 3 and March 5.

The managing director, said the show, tagged “Katsina State 2013 Agricultural Show,’’ would hold in Kafinsoli town in Kankia Local Government Area of the state.

“The re-introduction of the agricultural show followed the state government’s commitment to promoting the agricultural sector of the state’s economy,’’ he said.

Kwara

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State last Thursday in Ilorin called on the nation’s youths in tertiary institutions to be innovative in their field of studies.

Ahmed made the call during the First Kwara State Tertiary Education Summit entitled, “Repositioning Tertiary Education in Kwara State.”

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Elder Peter Kisira, said his administration was committed to providing the necessary technological equipment for proper training in tertiary schools.

Lagos

An Agege Customary Court in Lagos last Thursday dissolved a 23-year-old marriage of a medical doctor over battery and infidelity on his part.

The Court President Emmanuel Sokunle, held that the union of Dr Billy Ojelam and Amaka has broken down beyond repair.

He said that Billy failed to show up in court throughout the proceedings in the divorce suit filed by Amaka on October 23, 2012.

“The court was informed that the doctor filed a similar suit in another customary court when we were still handling the very matter.

Nasarawa

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, Mr. Yunana Iliya, has urged the CPC-led government in the state to step up efforts at providing basic amenities to the people.

Iliya gave the advice while reacting to the recent protest by students of the state university over water scarcity in the institution in Lafia on Thursday.

He said until basic infrastructure, such as water and electricity promised by the State Government were provided, “the much needed change the people yearned for will only be a farce’’.

The chairman commiserated with the families of students who lost their lives during the protest and sympathised with the injured.

Plateau

The Chief Medical Director, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr. Ishaya Pam, has urged the Federal Government to establish a Lassa fever diagnostic centre in Plateau.

“The first case of the fever was diagnosed in Plateau in the late 1960 when some medical workers died after looking after a Lassa fever patient that came from Lassa village in Borno.

“The state has recorded some cases over time; so it is only very important to establish a diagnostic centre for the ailment here to serve the north. We have made a request to the Federal Government and it is receiving attention.

“For us to increase the survival rate of the victims, it is important that we have a diagnostic centre that will particularly serve the middle belt region because quick diagnosis is very important,’’ Pam said in Jos last Thursday.

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.