Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

January 24, 2014

Bauchi
The Bauchi State Director of National Orientation
Agency (NOA), Hajiya Jummai Bello, has called on the people of the state to imbibe the spirit of peaceful co-existence.
Bello who said this in Bauchi last Tuesday, during an interview said that no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of rancour and hatred.
She said the agency was committed to sensitising the people of the state on the need to use cultural diversities as a tool for the development of the state.
“Our campaign is geared towards the propagation of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda. We try to entrench positive attitude, peaceful co-existence among people due to the decay that cut across the strata, “ she said.
Borno

Eighteen persons were feared dead after suspected Boko
Haram militants attacked a community along the Alau Dam -Alau Ngawo Fate in Jere Local Government Area of Borno on Sunday night.
A village head in the area, Malam Ibrahim Modu,told newsmen that the attackers invaded the community at about 10p.m. last Sunday before carrying out their evil act.
He said the invaders divided themselves into groups with some attacking residents while others set fire on the houses.
The spokesman for the 7 Division of Nigerian Army, Col. Mohammad Dole, confirmed the attack.

Ekiti

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
on Monday warned residents of the state against indulging in hard drugs.
The State Commander of the NDLEA in Ekiti, Mr Bamidele Akingbade, who gave the warning in an interview in Ado-Ekiti assured that said the agency would step-up efforts toward sensitising residents on the dangers of indulging hard drugs.
The agency, he said, would partner with some radio and television stations in the state in its public enlightenment drive.
He said the sponsored radio and television programmes would also educate the public on the dangers of cultivating, selling and smoking Indian hemp and urged the residents of the state to expose drug peddlers in their midst to the appropriate authorities.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government said it spent N75 million
on nomadic education in 2013.
A statement signed by the Alhaji Ali Manu, the Executive Secretary of the state Agency for Nomadic Education, in Dutse indicated that N36.6 million was spent on the construction of eight blocks of classrooms, headmaster’s offices and furniture.
The statement said that N9.3 million was used to procure and distribute instructional materials to all the schools in the state.
It said that N7.2 million was spent on the renovation of two blocks of classrooms in Guraja nomadic school and N6.2 million on furniture in its nine zonal offices.

Kano

The Kano State Government has approved money for
media campaign against increasing rate of rape cases in the state.
The state Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Maliki Kuliya, told newsmen in Kano last Monday, that the measure was necessary in order to sensitise the public on the problem as no fewer than 100 rape cases were recorded in Kano state between November and December, 2013.
He urged parents and Islamic scholars to take up the challenge by sensitising their wards and members of the public on the alarming rate of the menace in the state.
“The most disturbing thing is that most of the suspects are people that are known to the victims. So parents need to watch where their children go to or whom they relate with,’’ he said.

Katsina

The Katsina State Government last Monday distributed
reflective jackets, helmets and boots to 3,500 registered commercial motorcyclists operating in the state.
Distributing the items to the beneficiaries in Katsina, the Chairman, Committee on Sanitisation of commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators, otherwise known as ‘’Okada and Keke NAPEP’’ in the state, Alhaji Alhassan Muhammad, said that the items were given free of charge.
Muhammad said that the beneficiaries were selected from the 34 local government areas of the state, adding that the gesture was aimed at regulating the operations of commercial motorcyclists in the state.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Chairman of Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders and Owners Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) in the state, Alhaji Dikko Kofar-Sauri, commended the state government for the gesture.

Kogi
The Kogi State Government last Monday said it had or
dered for 40 new trucks as part of efforts to strengthen the activities of the State Sanitation and Waste Management Agency.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abudulrama Huya, said in Lokoja that the trucks, on arrival, would be deployed to 40 strategic locations to ensure clean environment.
He said the vehicles would come in from China and Germany, adding that the state government would engage more people to clean the streets to enhance cleanliness in the state.
The Managing Director of the State Waste Management Board (SWMB), Mrs Florence Joseph, also said that the agency had only three trucks and urged people in the state to be patient as the delivery of the new trucks would positively impact on their operations.

Niger

Eleven members of J’amatul Izalatul Bidia Wa Ikamati
Sunnah (JIBWIS) from Kebbi lost their lives in an auto crash in Suleja, Niger, on Sunday.
The accident occurred when the victims were returning to Kebbi after attending an education appeal fund programme in Abuja.
The unit commander of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Edwin Nwokike,in Suleja, told newsmen that the incident involved a Toyota Hiace bus conveying members of JIBWIS from Abuja to Suru in Kebbi and a Volkswagen Gulf car coming from Minna and going to Suleja.
The unit commander said that the driver of the Gulf car was alone and died on the spot; nine passengers in the Toyota bus also died on the spot, and one other died in the hospital, while nine sustained injuries.
Ogun
The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Olatokunbo
Olopade, last Monday in Abeokuta charged Magistrates in the state to be proactive and firm while shunning corruption in the discharge of their duties.
She advised the magistrates to carry out researches so as to be in tune with the latest trends in the legal profession, stating that the magistracy was an important and vital part of the judiciary because of its closeness to the grassroots.
She regretted that magistrate courts were becoming “a grave source of embarrassment and a sign of failure of the criminal justice system,’’ attributing delays in trials to the poor attitude of some magistrates to work.

Ondo

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has urged
chiefs and people of Akure kingdom to support and cooperate with the new regent of the land, Princess Adetutu Adesida.
Mimiko said during a homage to the regent last Monday in Akure that the supports would bring more peace and development in the kingdom.
He said that the reign of the late Oba Adebiyi Adesida, although very short, brought an “unprecedented development” to the land in the areas of sustainable peace and infrastructure development.
The governor said that the late monarch enjoyed tremendous support from his subjects and stressed that he was able to record more successes because of his tenacity of purpose and zeal to develop Akure and make it a befitting state capital.

Plateau

The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission
(PLASIEC) has cleared 574 persons to contest chairmanship and counsellorship positions in the January 30 local government elections.
The commission’s chairman, Peter Dalyop, said in Jos that 39 persons did not scale through the screening exercise.
Some of the chairmanship candidates who were not cleared include Mrs Rose Yakubu Chollom, the All Peoples’ Congress (APC) candidate for Barkin-Ladi Local Government and her Vice, Dung Stephen.

Zamfara

The Emir of Kaura-Namoda, Zamfara State, Alhaji Ahmad
Asha, has warned village and district heads in the emirate against all forms of corrupt practices.
The emir who gave the warning when he addressed the traditional rulers in Kaura-Namoda said it was only by shunning corruption that they would earn the respect of their subjects.
He particularly warned them against tampering with the financial assistance given to the less privileged known as Zakkat by the state government and disclosed that the emirate would inaugurate a monitoring committee to ensure that the funds were not tampered with.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen and Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, during his visit to the Minister yestersday. Photo: NAN.

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.