Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

February 10, 2014

Benue
The Benue State Commissioner for Agriculture and
Natural Resources, Mr Donald Gbugho, last Thursday said the ministry would soon commence registration of herdsmen in the state.
Speaking when the Maize Association of Nigeria, led by its Chairman, Mr Sam Kwa’Na, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Makurdi, Thursday, Gbugbo said that the registration was necessitated by the incessant clashes between the herdsmen and farmers, which was having negative effects on the economy of the state.
The commissioner called on the Federal Government to open up the eight grazing reserves in the state yet to be developed since the colonial administration to expand areas of grazing for herdsmen.
Earlier, Kwa’Na had appealed to the commissioner to provide the association with land to enable it venture into dry season farming and urged the state government to reinforce existing grazing laws to restore peace between herdsmen and farmers.

FCT
The special representative of International Police
(INTERPOL) to the EU, Mr Pierre Reuland, says the operations of West African Police Information System (WAPIS) programme would receive more expertise.
Reuland said last Tuesday in Abuja that INTERPOL would use the existing tools in achieving the WAPIS objectives.
According to Reuland, the WAPIS programme is facing the challenge of building partnership and confidence between law enforcement institutions within the EU and ECOWAS countries.
He stressed the need for a legal framework of the countries involved to exist at the national and regional levels to resolve a few legal questions arising from the exchange of information.

Kano
Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State last
Wednesday charged permanent secretaries to continue to live above board in the fight against corruption.
Kwankwaso, who gave the charge at the swearing-in of two permanent secretaries in Kano, specifically charged them to join in the administration’s collective efforts to fight corruption.
The governor also urged them to see their new position as an opportunity to further uplift the state and also discharge the responsibilities of their new office without fear or hindrances.
Kwankwaso urged the families of the appointees to show understanding as their new responsibilities would demand sacrifices to the state.

Kebbi
The Kalgo Local Government Council in Kebbi State,
last Wednesday, said it spent N9 million in the construction of drains, preparatory to the rainy season and to prevent flooding.
The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abubakar Kuka, who disclosed this in an interview Kalgo, Kebbi said the drains would allow free flow of water to prevent flood and to avoid a recurrence of last year’s flood in the area.
He said, four rural primary health centres were established to enhance healthcare delivery to the people the council had bought drugs worth N8.5 million to be distributed free to the health facilities in the council.
He commended Gov. Saidu Dakingari for executing developmental projects in the area, which included hospitals and new schools and promised that the council would continue to ensure the provision of amenities to the people as dividends of democracy.

Kogi
Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and So
cial Development, Mrs Patience Mameh, has called for the eradication of traditional practices that aid the transmission of HIV/AIDS among women and children.
Mameh, who made the call last Thursday in Mopa, at a workshop to create awareness on the HIV/AIDS pandemic said that the workshop was imperative as it would help curb the erroneous beliefs and traditions held by the people that aggravate the spread of HIV/AIDS.
She said that HIV/AIDS had assumed endemic status partly due to traditional and cultural beliefs and practices which, according to her, must be de-emphasised if not totally eradicated.gi

Lagos

Director, Shelter Watch Initiative (SWI), a non-
governmental organisation, Mr Segun Olutade has said that it would empower 3,000 youths with practical skills and vocations.
Olutade told newsmen in Lagos last Thursday that 1,000 artisans that were trained in 2013 by SWI were ready to impart some of the skills to the youths.
He said that the NGO would organise programmes to help work on the attitudes of the already trained artisans, to get them ready to pass on their knowledge.
“The primary objective of the initiative is to reshape the Nigerian society through dedicated projects and programmes targeted towards capacity building among the Nigerian workforce,’’ Olutade said.

Niger

A Minna Chief Magistrates Court last Wednesday sen
tenced two men to nine months imprisonment each for selling fuel in jerry cans.
The men Sanusi Ibrahim and Mohammed Yunusa, all of Tsauni village in Gurara Local Government Area of the state, aged 33 and 30 respectively, were jailed without option of fine.
The Prosecutor, Mr Saidu Ibrahim, a Civil Corps Assistant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had told the court that the convicts were arrested in Tsauni village.
The convicts pleaded guilty before the court while the prosecutor prayed the court for summary trial.
The Magistrate, Alhaji Hamidu Bima, sentenced them to nine months jail term each without option of fine.
Ondo
Ondo

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has in
augurated the N2.13 billion First Bank- Alapata-Ugbe-Iboropa-Ise Road in Akoko North East Local Government area of the state.
Speaking at the occasion, the governor promised that his administration would complete all the road projects awarded before the end of his tenure.
The 23-kilometre road, which would serve communities in the council area, was awarded in 2010 while the contractor moved to site in March 2011.
According to Mimiko, 49 road projects with a total length of 731 kilometres had been completed and put to use since the inception of his administration adding that 36 new projects covering 244.20 kilometres were currently ongoing in the three senatorial districts in the state.

Plateau
The nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of
Research Institutions (ASURI) has paralysed activities at National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, near Jos.
The national body of ASURI recently embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike to compel the Federal Government to implement the agreement it had signed with the union.
NVRI Branch Chairman of ASURI, Dr Isaac Ogo, said in Jos that the industrial action was total and that no member of the union would work.
Ogo said that the union wanted immediate release of conditions and schemes of service by the government, which was negotiated with relevant ministries and agencies for nine years.
Sokoto

An All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Chieftain in
Sokoto State, Alhaji Muktari Mapia, has urged politicians to demonstrate high sense of decorum to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.
Mapia said in Sokoto last Wednesday that: “members of the political class must mobilise their followers on the need for maturity in order to ensure peaceful conduct of political activities.’’
He said that politicians, especially those seeking elective positions, must sensitise their followers to desist from political violence and intolerance.
Mapia also called on the security agencies to provide a platform that would enable the politicians to conduct their activities in a peaceful atmosphere state that the provision of a level-playing ground by security agencies would go a long way to ensure peaceful conduct of political activities.

Taraba

The Taraba State Police Command on Wednesday said
it had arrested four suspects in connection with alleged possession of firearms and ammunition.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Kwaji who disclosed this in an interview in Jalingo said the suspects were initially arrested by a vigilant group at Karofi area of Jalingo and were handed over to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
Kwaji said that one Ak 47 with 45 rounds of live ammunition, one Pump Action Gun with 26 round of cartridges and nine rounds of K2 live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
The PPRO commended the vigilant group for complementing the efforts of the police in the state and urged members of the public to always provide useful information to the security organisations for effective crime prevention.

L-R: Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, IBM Chairman, Ginni Rometty and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, after a meeting in Abuja, last Thursday. 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.