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THE STATES

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Adamawa
Former APC National Vice Chairman, North-East, Alh.
Umaru Duhu, has alleged that the impeachment plan against Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako by the state House of Assembly was instigated by the Presidency.
Duhu stated that the political squabble was as a result of the memo written by the governor to the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the international community wherein he expressed his concerns over the spate of insurgency in the country, especially in the North-East.
He counselled President Goodluck Jonathan to concentrate his attention on tackling the current security challenges in the country rather than sponsoring impeachment in the state. He equally described the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, as being over ambitious and selfish.
Duhu disclosed that efforts are being made by stakeholders in the state to broker the peace in the political logjam, adding that “the only problem we have in Adamawa State today is inflicted on us by the Presidency due to Nyako position on the insurgency in the country.

Ekiti
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ekiti State
chapter, has condemned Federal Government’s plan to appoint nurses and pharmacists as consultants and Chief Medical Directors of public health institutions in the country.
The NMA, at a press conference to kick start the nationwide strike also called for the scrap of Joint Health Sector Union, which represents the amalgamation of all sectors in the country.
The body said each professional affiliate body should be allowed to operate through their parent organizations.
Speaking through their state chairman, Dr Obitade Obimakinde, the NMA at a press conference in Ado Ekiti,  argued that the new structure as being mooted by the federal government is capable of causing  internal confusion in health institutions.
Obimakinde said pharmacists and nurses must be allowed to play supportive roles and take directives from doctors, rather than “eroding the well entrenched clinical structures in the hospitals”.

FCT
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar,
last Thursday said continuous acquisition of knowledge by officers and men of the force was required for effective policing.
Abubakar said at the inauguration of the Police Special Study Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria at the Dei Die Police barracks in the FCT, that with the establishment of the centre, personnel of the force aspiring to acquire higher qualification could do so without necessarily leaving their place of primary responsibility.
He said, “Policing requires acquisition of knowledge and with this special study centre, university education has been brought very close to us. Our journey to the land of knowledge has begun as higher qualification can be pursued and obtained without going far from our place of primary responsibility.”
Abubakar charged officers and men of the force to take advantage of the centre and acquire additional qualifications.

Kaduna
A first class traditional ruler in the Southern part of Kaduna
State last Thursday shunned protesting youths who staged a peaceful protest to his palace over the persistent killings and destructions in the area.
The youths, under the aegis of Concerned Southern Kaduna Youths (CSKY) had marched peacefully to the palace of the paramount ruler of Kagoro in Kaura Local Government of Kaduna State, Chief Ufuwai Bonet, to present a protest letter for onward delivery to other traditional rulers in the southern part of Kaduna State.
However, on arrival at the palace, the traditional ruler refused to grant them audience on the ground that the youths did not follow due process to see him.
Determined to present the letter, the youths vowed not to leave the palace until the chief gave them audience and decided to sit on the ground, singing gospel songs.
It was gathered that all efforts to convince the traditional ruler to grant audience to the youths was unsuccessful as he insisted that the group did not inform him that they were coming to see him.
Appeals by the protesting youths, including a former Kaduna State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Jonathan Kish Adamu, who is from the area could not make the chief to change his mind.
Kwara
Exactly two weeks after the death of Aare Musulumi of
Yoruba land, Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, one of his widows, Jelilat, died in an auto-crash at Eyenkorin, near Ilorin, Kwara State last Tuesday evening. She was aged 62.
The late Jelilat was the eldest wife of the late billionaire, who died in his London home on the day he was due back in Nigeria. Her late husband had died of a heart-related disease in his sleep in London after taking his breakfast and drugs.
She had two children for the Muslim leader, Abdullahi and Fatimah. She was buried at her residence in Apata area of Ibadan last Wednesday.
Family, friend’s children and neighbours mourned the late Jelilat Arisekola-Alao, describing her as a devout Muslim and a generous neighbour.

Ogun
The Committee for Defence of Human Rights in Ogun State
recently called on the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission to probe alleged diversion of fund allocated to some local governments in the state.
The state chairman of the CDHR in the state, Mr. Folarin Olayinka, stated this during a press conference held at NUJ Secretariat, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
The organisation also demanded a statement of appropriated Federal allocation, Internally Generated Revenue, statement of expenditure and a document of projects activities embarked upon by the local governments between July 2012 and April 2014.
Olayinka said the CDHR has written to some of the councils which include: Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Sagamu, Ifo, Ado-Odo-Ota, Ijebu-Ode and Odogbolu, to make available their accounts to them for scrutiny, exploring the Freedom of Information Act.
According to him, the petitioners had alleged that the projects many of them executed were not commensurate with allocation they received.

Ondo
As part of the ongoing revolution in the agriculture sector,
Ondo State Government will soon present a bill on Cocoa Revolution to the state House of Assembly.
The state Commissioner for Information, Kayode  Akinmade, who disclosed this recently explained that the bill when passed into law would enable government to actualise its decision to make cocoa farmers to begin to reap the fruits of their labour.
He said government would not allow cocoa farmers in the state to be ripped off any longer, adding that “by the time the bill becomes law, the cocoa business would naturally receive a boost and the farmers would be encouraged to do more.”
Akinmade said the initiative of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to revamp cocoa production through the Cocoa Revolution Project was a good vision and another landmark in boosting the revenue of the state and declared that the project and all matters connected therewith would be encompassed in the bill for the sustainability of the project.
Oyo
The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, says the state
workers salary had grown from N2 billion to N4.6 billion in the last three years. The governor lamented that developmental projects in the state had suffered because the state’s share from federal allocation had not been enough to prosecute the projects in the state.
Ajimobi spoke at the 2014 Adegoke Adelabu Memorial Lecture in Ibadan, Oyo State, recently, where he condemned the type of politics witnessed today as compared to what obtained in the days of the late prominent Ibadan politician.
He said, “In the last three years, this administration has increased workers salary from a total of N2bn that we met to N4.6bn every month. We receive allocation from the Federal Government but if we have to do everything needed to be done in the state at a time, the money can never be enough because our people need lots of assistance from us.”
The governor added that Adedibu’s name would be immortalised by the state government with an edifice, promising the same in honour of the late Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao, who died on June 18.
Guest speaker at the forum, Prof. Isiaka Aransi, who delivered a lecture titled ‘Local Government and its Impact on the People’, called for the creation of more local government as the only solution to the social challenges in the country.

Plateau
The University of Jos said it would spend over N40 million
to establish three new faculties for the study of Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture and Engineering.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Hayward Babale Mafuyai, who spoke with newsmen recently, said plans have reached advanced stage to establish the new faculties and have them take off by October this year.
Mafuyai said the programmes would require a lot of financial and material support to meet the requirements of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the various professional bodies in the country.
He said when fully established, the faculties would address the problem of numerous candidates seeking university education and appealed to federal and state governments as well as public-spirited individuals to provide the university with critical support materials for infrastructural development.

Taraba
Taraba State acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, has flagged
off the distribution of farm inputs to farmers in the state.
Speaking during the exercise, Umar said the procurement of free farm inputs for farmers was part of government’s efforts aimed at boosting production and guarantee food security in the state.
“This year’s rains have given the indication of a good wet season. We are very hopeful that the Almighty God and nature will bless us with the right amount of rain that will lead to bumper harvest. I therefore urge our hardworking and dedicated farmers to take advantage of this combination of factors created by the Almighty, nature and the government to step up production level this year”, he said.

L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor-elect, Dr Olusola Eleka, Director-General, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO), Chief Dipo Anisulowo and  Ekiti State Chief Imam, Alhaji Jamiu Kewulere, during the presentation of bags of rice to Ekiti Muslim faithful for Ramadan at Ado-Ekiti Central Mosque, recently.

L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor-elect, Dr Olusola Eleka, Director-General, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO), Chief Dipo Anisulowo and Ekiti State Chief Imam, Alhaji Jamiu Kewulere, during the presentation of bags of rice to Ekiti Muslim faithful for Ramadan at Ado-Ekiti Central Mosque, recently.

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HYPREP Marks 15 Years Of UNEP Report, Highlights Major Cleanup Milestones

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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

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REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

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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.
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Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

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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.
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