Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

May 18, 2016

L-R: Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Idiat Adebule, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, his wife, Bolanle and Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Rurum, during a visit by Governor Ganduje to Lagos State Government House, yesterday.

Borno

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, has directed
the state Specialist Hospital to provide free medical services to the victims of a suicide bomb attack in Maiduguri.
Our correspondent reports that the incident happened at the entrance of the Musa Usman Secretariat. Shettima, who gave the directive when he visited the victims at the hospital, described the incident as shocking.
The governor attributed the renewed suicide bombings to the current military operation in Sambisa forest, a hideout of the Boko Haram terrorists.
He advised residents to be vigilant as the fleeing terrorists are trying to sneak into the town to cause mayhem.
Earlier, Alhaji Ahmed Satomi, Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) told the governor that two persons including the suicide bomber died during the attack.
Ekiti

The management of College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti,
Ekiti State, has approved the establishment of 11 new academic programmes for the institution.
Mr Temitope Akinbisoye, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the college, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti.
Akinbisoye said that the Provost of the college, Dr Mojisola Oyarekua, said the new academic programmes were established to create opportunities for people to acquire education irrespective of their status and background.
He quoted the Provost as saying that the programmes which would run for both diploma and certificate, were also set up to enhance manpower development.
Jigawa

The Jigawa State chapter of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam
(JNI), has commenced the training of its 450 members on security, safety and First Aid.
The Secretary of the group, Malam Muhammad Babangida, told newsmen in Dutse that the programme was to complement government’s efforts to provide security, safety and disaster control in the state.
“The JNI feels it should contribute its quota to national security, health and disaster control through full participation in security and social responsibilities in the society,” Babangida said. “The beneficiaries will be trained on modern security approach, improved peace, conflict prevention, peace building, first-aid, accident prevention and environmental hazard.
Kaduna

Sight Savers, an NGO, says it has taken the fight against
five Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) to rural areas in Kaduna state.
Dr AbdulKadir Isa-Randagi, the Programme Manager of the organisation, made this known to newsmen shortly after a visit to the Emir of Zazzau in Zaria, Kaduna state.
Isa-Randagi said the programme was designed to reach the grassroots through traditional rulers to effectively achieve the set goals.
He listed the diseases as Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephanthiatis), Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), Soil Transmitted Helnicathes (Intestinal Worms) and Trachoma (Blinding Eye Disease).

Kano

A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kano has sentenced a
22-year-old man, Bilyaminu Danladi, to 20 months imprisonment for causing hurt and being a member of unlawful society.
Danladi of Sheka Quarters Kano was charged with joining unlawful assembly and causing hurt while armed with deadly weapon, contrary to Sections 242 and 103 of the Penal Code.
The Chief Magistrate, Ibrahim Khaleel, sentenced Danladi after he pleaded guilty to the two-count charge.
Khaleel sentenced the convict to nine months imprisonment or a fine of N15,000 for the first count charge, and six months imprisonment or a fine of N10,000 for the second count charge. He also ordered the convict to pay N50,000 as compensation to the victim to buy drugs or five months imprisonment.

Kebbi

The Chairman of Kebbi State Council of Ulama Malam
Umaru Ikah, has died on Wednesday at the age of 66.
A Government statement signed by Alhaji Abubakar Dakingari, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said that the deceased died in Birnin Kebbi while returning from his farm.
Our correspondent reports that Ikah, a renowned Islamic scholar, was survived by four wives, 45 children and grand children.
Until his death, late Sheikh Umaru Ikah, was the Sarkin Malamai of Gwandu Emirate, and was the leader of preachers committee of the 2015 Hajj delegation of the state.

Kogi

Kogi State House of Assembly has invited all heads of
tertiary institutions in the state to appear before it on allegations of massive extortion of students under their management.
The resolution followed a motion moved at the House plenary by Lawi Ahmed (PDP-Okene 1) accusing heads of the institutions of connivance with their lecturers in the extortion game on students.
He told his colleagues that the students were forced to buy some unrecognised educational materials under threat of failure.
The legislator said such antics ran contrary to the operational rules of the institutions which are charged with providing needed environment for students to develop in character and learning for which they are awarded certificates at the end of their various programmes.
Moving the motion, he expressed regrets that the institutions had been turned into “extortion grounds where lecturers take advantage of their positions to intimidate and extort money from hapless students’’.

Lagos

A landlady, Modupe Akinbolade, 55 and her daughter,
Abimbola Akinbolade, 32, have been docked before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly beating up Modupe’s tenant.
The accused trader and her medical doctor daughter who live at 14, Jisco Close, Ikola in Ipaja, a suburb of Lagos, are being tried for conspiracy, assault and causing a breach of the peace.
The prosecutor, Insp Clifford Ogu, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 19 at Modupe’s residence.
Ogu said that a fight ensued between the complainant, Mrs Chinyere Mbadikwe and her landlady, Modupe Akinbolade, over the cleaning of the compound.
“The two were fighting when the landlady’s daughter came in and joined the mother to beat-up the tenant.
Osun

The Osun State House of Assembly has passed the
state’s 2016 budget estimate of N141 billion.
The passage of the budget followed a motion by Mr Kamil Oyedele, the Chairman of Finance and Appropriation Committee during plenary in Osogbo.
The budget has N79.18 billion representing 56.06 per cent as Recurrent Expenditure and N62.09 billion representing 43.95 as Capital Expenditure.
Also, it estimated recurrent revenue at N99.47 billion, representing 70.41 per cent, while the capital revenue expectation is N41.80 billion, representing 29.59 per cent.

Oyo

A Dentist, Dr Yemi Ajala said that continuous toothache
and sharp pain without obvious cause could be signs of tooth decay.
Ajala told newsmen in Ibadan that tooth decay was a decay of the outer part of the surface of the tooth as a result of bacterial action.
“The mouth is full of different types of bacteria that live on teeth, gums, tongue and other places in our mouths.
“Some bacteria are helpful, while some can be harmful such as those that play a role in the tooth decay process. These can lead to a hole in the tooth called a cavity.
“If not treated, tooth decay can cause pain, infection, and severe damage to the tooth,” he said.

Plateau

The Plateau State Government has approved the recruit
ment of 4, 850 ad hoc teachers as part of efforts to address the acute shortage of teachers in the state.
Prof. Mathew Sule, the Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), told newsmen in Jos.
He said that the move was to address staffing deficit that had affected the quality of education in the state.
“Staffing deficit in public primary schools in Plateau has been a major concern and priority to the administration of Governor Lalong; he said.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State House of Assembly has passed a law
to repeal the Sokoto State Road Traffic Law of 1996.
In its place the assembly approved the enactment of Sokoto Roads Traffic Management Law, 2016.
Our correspondent reports that the assembly took the decision after ratifying the report of its Committee on Works and Transport during its sitting.
The report, presented by the committee’s Chairman, Alhaji Sani Yakubu, said that the new law would create “one management, administrative and enforcement agency for the state”
This will also empower it to enforce road traffic law and regulations, environmental and other public health laws and regulations, as well as providing supplementary/vigilante security in the state.’’

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.