Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

December 24, 2014

Borno

No fewer than 30 pregnant women currently taking ref
uge in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri have given birth.
The Chairman, Committee on the IDPs camp in Government Girls Secondary School Maiduguri Alhaji Babagana Mahmoud told the newsmen in Maiduguri.
Mahmoud said more than 4,200 women and children had been displaced by insurgents in Bama and its environ.
Mahmoud said that 20 other pregnant women in IDP camps in the areas were also expected to deliver as confirmed by medical doctors in the camp.
He explained that the state government had set up committee on safe motherhood in the various camps to assist women with complications.

FCT

A non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Dr Radcliff
Save Lives Foundation, has called for support from government and well-meaning Nigerians to alleviate the suffering of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja camp. The Country Director of the NGO, Dr Alexander Nnadozie made the call in Abuja during a medical outreach and distribution of relief materials to displaced persons in the camp.He said the event was organised by the NGO and sponsored by , the National Coordinator, House to House Network Prince Chidi Ibe.
Nnadozie said the call became necessary due to the unhealthy environment in the camp.
“The spread of airborne and communicable diseases from one family to another can strive very well here because of the kind of houses the inhabitants are living in.
“Apart from the fact that the environment is bushy, all kinds of diseases can spread in the camp and the people are still exposed to serious insecurity”, he said.

Kano

A Kano-based non-govermental organisation, Network for Empowerment and Development Initiative (NEDIN), has called on government at all levels to be sincere on the fight against corruption in the country.
This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day seminar on: “Youth against Corruption, Panacea to a Just and Peaceful Society,’’ organised by the non-governmental organisation.
The programme was organised for students of Federal Government College, Kano.
The communiqué was signed by the coordinator of NEDIN, Mr Peter Tijjani and made available to newsmen in Kano.
According to the communiqué, government must have the political will to ensure that perpetrators of illegal acts were punished to serve as deterrent to others.

Kogi

The Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law En
forcement Agency (NDLEA) has paraded five suspects, including two women in connection with trafficking of 102.5kg of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp).
The Commander, Alhaji Idris Bello, told newsmen in Lokoja that the substance was concealed in several big bags being transported to Abuja.
Bello said that NDLEA operatives at Jamata Bridge intercepted a Volkswagen Sharon mini-bus over-loaded with vegetable leaves.
He said that the operatives became curious and searched the vehicle only to find 10 bags of cannabis concealed in two big bags in the bus.
The commander said the three other suspects in the mini-bus claimed ignorance of the cannabis
“The suspects claimed they are business people engaged in sale of moi-moi leaves and vegetables to customers in Abuja.”

Ogun

The Ogun State Teaching Service Commission
(TESCOM) said it would recruit additional 1000 teachers and 200 non-teaching staff in 2015 fiscal year.
The commission’s Full-Time Commissioner 1, Mr Timothy Adebowale, made this known when he defended the 2015 budget proposal before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation.
Adebowale said that the recruitment was part of measures to sustain qualitative teaching and learning in public secondary schools across the state.
The commissioner, who defended a budget estimate of N19.18 billion, said that the commission would also ensure even distribution of teachers across the four divisions of the state.

Ondo

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has de
scribed the late Sen. Ayo Lawrence as a quintessential Nigerian who had contributed immensely to the development of his community and country.
Dame Jonathan made the remark in a message to the burial of Lawrence in Iyere-Owo, Owo local government area of Ondo State.
She was represented by Ondo State Commissioner for Woman Affairs and Social Development Dr Yemi Mahmud-Fasominu,.
The first lady said Lawrence had dependable children as the Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on House Keeping Mrs Morenike Waterton,.
She added that the Special Assistant always worked hard and exhibited discipline at her duty post in Aso Villa.

Nasarawa

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in
Nasarawa State, has advised unemployed graduates to embrace Federal Government’s Graduate Attachment Programme (GAP) to become self-reliant.
, the Head of NDE Vocational Skills Acquisition Programme in the state, Alhaji Idris Wase gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lafia, recently.
Wase said NDE was saddled with the responsibility of training people, especially the youths and women in different skills to make them self-reliant and to contribute their quota to national development.
“There is high rate of unemployment which has degenerated to anti-social activities such as violent crimes, insecurity, armed robbery, drug and human trafficking, among others.

Lagos

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbeje, has urged Independent National Electorial Commission INEC to review and if possible, repeat the Permanent Voter’s Card/Registration (PCV) in Lagos.
Our correspondent reports that Agbaje made the appeal at an endorsement rally organised by the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Support Groups, NGOs, Marketers and Traders for President Jonathan and Agbaje’s 2015 bid.
Complaints had continued to trail the PVC distribution and registration of fresh voters by INEC in Lagos.
INEC had earlier said that no Nigerian of voting age would be left out of the process of obtaining the PVC for 2015.
Agbaje said that INEC must act swiftly to ensure that those who were still complaining were attended to.

Sokoto

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State said All
Progressives Congress ( APC) in the state would set up reconciliation and campaign committees across the state soon.
Wamakko, at the monthly APC stakeholders meeting in Sokoto, said that the committees would reconcile all aggrieved members and aspirants who lost at the primaries.
According to him, the measures were being taken to further strengthen the party in the state.
“The reconciliation committees will pacify all aggrieved aspirants of the party at all levels, with a view to wooing them,’’ he said.
He added that “the campaign committees will be set up to show that the party is not complacent’’, stressing that it was determined to emerge victorious at 2015 general polls.

Taraba

The TY Danjuma Foundation has donated relief materi
als to over 2000 victims of insurgency in the North-East who are staying at various camps in Jalingo, Taraba.
The relief materials include: blankets, soap, instant noodles, bags of rice, and tubers of yam.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Etta Akin-Aina, said while distributing the materials to the victims that the gesture was to alleviate their suffering.
“The UNHCR estimates that since 2013, Boko Haram attacks have displaced 470,000 people from north eastern Nigeria. “This foundation believes that every displaced person, especially those living in camps, has the right to dignity, protection, security and reestablishment of his means of livelihood.

Gov Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State (Right), presenting rice and cash to the needy in Sokoto.

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.