Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

April 20, 2015

Adamawa

The Governor-elect of Adamawa State, Bindo Jibrilla,
has solicited the support of the people of the state to enable him fulfil the promises made during campaign.
Bindo made the call when he received members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and different ethnic groups who paid him a courtesy visit in Yola on Saturday.
According to the governor-elect, running of government is not an individual matter or a matter for a particular group.
“I was elected as a governor but running government affairs is a collective responsibility that needs your intellectual support to deliver.
“I am a governor, you are the governed, and I cannot make it without your collective support’’, Bindo said.

FCT

The Zaymar Education Centre (ZEC) has advised
Muslim women all over the world to emulate the virtues of Nana Fatima, the daughter of prophet Muhammad (SAW), as the world celebrates her.
The co-odinator of the centre, Hajia Shifa Garba, made the appeal in an address of welcome during the celebration of late Fatima in Abuja on Saturday.
The theme of the celebration for this year; “Mother, the Axis of Unity,’’ is to commemorate the roles played by Fatima in the development of Islam.
Garba said; “the best of women, especially the one we are celebrating today, lived their entire lives within the limit of Allah (SWT).
“ They have achieved greatness through actions which even the best of men could not have equaled.
“ They have gained love and respect not only for those who knew them, but also for those who came to hear about them long after their time,’’ she said.

Gombe

No fewer than 2,430 students matriculated at the
Federal College of Education (Technical) in Gombe, on Saturday for the 2014/2015 academic session.
The Provost of the college, Dr Abass Gimba, said the college had provided all the facilities needed for effective teaching and learning.
According to him, workshop, laboratories, virtual library, computer centre are made available for you.
Gimba urged them to take advantage of the facilities to develop themselves.
He further said the college administration abhors all forms of bad behaviours.
“I will like to say in strong terms that we will not condone any form of anti-social activities from students.
“We will use all the available means at our disposal to effectively control erring students in order to curtail such bad behaviours,” he said.

Kaduna
The Kaduna State Governor-elect, Malam Nasiru el-
Rufai, has called on the residents of Kaduna to shun religious sentiments and leave in peace with one another.
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Sunday his spokesman, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said that he was determined to work with all residents of the state to restore its past glory.
He said that what the state needed was good governance and genuine development, urging the people to focus on these values.
“Our good people of Kaduna State, we are again grateful for the mandate you gave us on April 11.
“I am begging you in the name of Almighty God to live in peace and work together for a new Kaduna State.

Kano

The Kano State Government says it has approved
over N242 million for the payment of intending pilgrims’ accommodation in Saudi Arabia for the 2015 Hajj.
The Commissioner for Information, Hajiya Ladidi Garko, disclosed this at a press conference on the outcome of the state executive council meeting in Kano on Sunday.
She said the council had also approved over N26 million for the re-imbursement of tuition and other associated fees for 27 state-sponsored students in China.
“The council also approved N191.8 million for the settlement of outstanding debt in favour of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).
“The council has also approved N10.6 million for the production of one million seedlings for the year 2015.”
Garko said that N15 million was also approved for pipeline extension and reticulation from Kwankwaso market to Sabon Garin Kwankwaso.

Kwara

Islamic cleric Khadijat Abdulsalam, has said the re-elec
tion of Abdulfatah Ahmed as governor of Kwara was another opportunity for the people to enjoy genuine dividends of democracy.
Abdulsalam made the remark at a special thanksgiving prayer for the peaceful conduct of the just-concluded general elections in Nigeria.
Abdulsalam, therefore, told wealthy individuals to always remember their creator and imbibe the spirit of alms giving to the needy.
Omolewa, wife of Kwara governor, organiser of the special prayer, thanked God for the successful elections and for the re-election of her husband.

Nasarawa

The Police Command in Nasarawa State has con
firmed the arrest of five suspected hoodlums who allegedly disrupted the ongoing re-run elections in Lafia-Obi Federal Constituency with firearms.
The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Manche Christopher, said the suspects were arrested by security operatives in Angwan Mangu while threatening the electorate at the polling unit.
Manche explained that the suspects had been taken to the state criminal investigation department for further investigation.
He warned that the police would not take it lightly with anybody attempting to disrupt the existing peace in the state.
The police spokesman said that the security agencies would ensure the smooth conduct of the re-run election in the constituency.

Ondo

The Ondo State Government says a strange disease
that has killed some people since its outbreak on April 15 in Ode-Irele, Irele local government area of the state, is not contagious.
The Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, made this assurance on Sunday at a news conference in Akure.
He said findings from post-mortem carried out on the victims and other laboratory tests revealed that the disease was neither epidemic nor contagious.
According to the commissioner, preliminary report shows that ethanol poison is found in the systems of all the victims.
“Our investigations revealed that the victims, who are commercial motorcyclists, gathered at some local joints to take alcoholic substance mixed with roots and some other local herbs on the eve of the outbreak of the disease.
“I can assure you that the disease is in no way contagious. The fact that none of the caregivers has contracted the disease has greatly underscored this point.

Sokoto

The Chairman of Katsina State Indigenes Associa
tion, Sokoto State chapter, Alhaji Aliyu Daura, has pleaded with the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to re-introduce the War Against Indiscipline (WAI).
He made the plea in a congratulatory message to Buhari made available to newsmen in Sokoto on Sunday.
According to him, the re-introduction of WAI will check the menace of various forms of indiscipline across the country.
He appealed to Buhari to also strive to ensure total eradication of corruption from the country, describing it as the bane of Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
Daura further called on the president-elect to focus on ensuring the security of lives and property, especially the ongoing war against insurgency and other forms of criminality across the nation.
Taraba
The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) on Saturday presented certificates of return to the three senators and six House of Representatives members-elect in Taraba State.
The INEC National Commissioner, Alhaji Nuru Yakubu, presented the certificates to them in Jalingo.
Those issued the certificates were Taraba Acting Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Danladi, Taraba North; Mr Emmanuel Bwacha, Taraba South; and Alhaji Bashir Barafa, Taraba Central.
The others were six House of Representatives members-elect.
Yakubu advised them to fulfil their campaign promises in order to attract development to the state.
He urged the people to support the commission to peacefully conclude the scheduled governorship run off slated for April 25.

Adamawa State Governor-elect, Senator Bindow Jibrilla (left), being presented with Certificate of Return by the National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba States, Dr Nuru Yakubu, during the presentation ceremony in Yola last Saturday. 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.