Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

April 24, 2015

Bauchi
Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has appealed to
the state’s civil servants to give their full support to the incoming administration of the governor-elect, Mohammed Abubakar.
He made the appeal in Bauchi during an interactive session with senior civil servants in the state, stressing that “I appeal to you, for God’s sake and for the sake of our people, to support and cooperate with the incoming governor.
“Don’t look at him as a representative of the All Progressives Congress (APC) because politicking will end the day he will be sworn in as governor come May 29; it will then be no longer politics but governance.’’
Yuguda said the governor-elect would require a lot from the state’s civil servants in terms of direction and therefore urged them to look inward and develop ideas that would make a difference in their respective ministries and ensure the success of the incoming administration.

Benue
The National and State Houses of Assembly Election
Petition Tribunal in Makurdi on Tuesday said that it received six petitions.
The tribunal Secretary, Mr Surajo Gusau, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.
Gusau urged aggrieved parties to file their petitions, reminding them that they only had 21 days left to do so.
Our correspondent reports that Gov. Gabriel Suswam had challenged the return of Chief Barnabas Gemade of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Senator-elect for Benue North-East.
Suswam of PDP, who filed the petition through his Counsel, Mr Andrew Wombo, alleged that Gemade did not win the election by the majority of the lawful votes cast.
The governor also alleged that INEC did not return Gemade according to the provisions of its relevant law.

FCT
The President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on Tues
day in Abuja, said the time had come to make more sacrifices and deliver on the promises made to the electorate.
Buhari said this when a delegation of All Progressives Congress (APC) politicians from Kogi and Kwara states paid him a courtesy visit at the party presidential campaign headquarters in Abuja.
He said it was time to restore security and confidence in the people who placed their trust in the party by voting its candidates at various levels.
He added that “I want to appeal to you to work with your colleagues across the country to ensure that we maintain and sustain this unexpected gains in the best interest of our country.
“It is time to make a lot more sacrifices. You are the real foot soldiers and you have the constituencies in your hands.’’

Jigawa
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administra
tion and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday ordered packaged water (pure water) producers in Jigawa to present their products for physic-chemical and microbiological test analysis.
The NAFDAC state Coordinator, Mr Olakunle Olaniran, gave the advice while inspecting the ongoing annual monitoring of water quality standard and compliance in Shemars Water Company in Dutse.
Olaniran explained that the agency had taken proactive measures in ensuring that water consumed by people met internationally recognised standards of quality and safety.
“All water producers must participate in the test analysis and where their product failed the test, we shall put measures to correct that; any packaged water producer who deliberately refused to participate will be sanctioned by the agency,” Olaniran warned.

Lagos
Human Rights activists, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin on Wednesday said that Nigeria must take a firm stand against the Xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos, Agbakoba advised the government to summon the South African Ambassador to send a message through him to his country on the need to put an immediate stop to the attacks.
“This is no longer time for diplomacy. We cannot fold our arms while our people are killed in South Africa,’’ he said.
According to him, if after sending a warning through the Ambassador such attacks continue, then Nigeria should take tougher measures.
He said it was disheartening that Nigerians could be put through such ordeal despite the role the nation played during the Apartheid in South Africa.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government said on Wednesday
that it had recruited 120 health extension workers to boost healthcare delivery services in rural areas.
To achieve this, the government presented letters of engagement to the beneficiaries.
Our correspondent reports that the Senior Special Assistant to the Gov. Al-Makura on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Dr Salisu Raj, presented the letters in Lafia.
Raj said the 120 Community Extension Workers (CEW) and Junior Community Health Extension Workers (J-CEW) were selected from six local government areas of Lafia, Doma, Keana, Wamba, Keffi and Karu.
He disclosed that MDGs was executing its 2013 Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) intervention programme with each local government having 20 personnel.
He said the beneficiaries were those who underwent training as well as those engaged in voluntary services at various MDGs clinics in the state.

Ondo
The Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr
Kayode Akinmade, said on Wednesday that the state-owned University of Medical Sciences has been “accredited and recognised’’ by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Akinmade confirmed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure.
He explained that the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, had received a letter to that effect from the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie.
The commissioner said that the NUC had recognised the institution as the 139th university in the country and 40th state-owned university.
“The university is being recognised as the 40th state-owned university and 139th university in Nigeria,’’ he said.

Plateau
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednes
day advised the Plateau Governor-elect, Mr Simon Lalong, to restore peaceful co-existence and security in the state on assumption of duty.
The Chairperson of the association in the state, Pastor Mary Shikse, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Jos.
Shikse also enjoined Lalong to shun ethno-religious sentiments or party differences in the discharge of his duties.
She urged the governor-elect against discriminating against any group by carrying everybody along, saying team work is more effective.
“The governor-elect should carry everybody along, a good leader embraces all and there is power in team work,” she said.
The chairperson, also a leader in Pentecostal Federation of Nigeria (PFN), Plateau chapter, expressed joy that no mayhem was experienced during the presidential and governorship elections.

Sokoto
The Commissioner for Environment in Sokoto State, Dr
Jabbi Kilgori, said on Wednesday that the state government had spent N231.43 million on the construction of drains and flood control in different part of the state.
Kilgori told newsmen in Sokoto that, the state government was committed towards preventing flooding within and outside the metropolis.
He said that new drains were constructed and old ones expanded at Dogon Daji, Sanyinna in Tambuwal Local Government Area, GSS Tangaza, headquarters of Tangaza Local Government Area.
Others are in Wajake, Wamakko Local Government and Gagi, Mabera, Bello way, Emir Yahaya, Kanwuri and Gwiwa housing low cost areas in Sokoto South and Sokoto North Local Government Areas within the metropolis.
He said new drains were also constructed in Dange-Shuni, headquarters of Dange-shuni Local Government and Rikida and Kilgore in Yabo Local Government Areas respectively.

Taraba
A dentist at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Taraba,
Miss Joy Joseph, on Wednesday advised residents of the state to go for teeth check-up after every six months.
Joseph told newsmen in Jalingo that the check-up would prevent tooth decay and mouth odour.
According to her, food particles that sticked to the teeth over time were responsible for most cases of tooth complaints by patients.
“A combination of glucose and protein present in the saliva which is formed readily after brushing the teeth enhances food substances to form that whitish substance on the tooth surface.
“If the plague or whitish substance is left for long without removal, it hardens and formed some dark dents called calculus.

Ghanaian President John Mahama (left) being received by the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari during his visit in Abuja, recently

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.