Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

August 17, 2016

Borno

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Borno
State Chapter, says over 18, 000 rice farmers in the state will cultivate their farms in 2016 after four years of insecurity.
The state AFAN Secretary, Salihu Aliyu, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
He said that many farmers had returned to their farms as a result of the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.
Aliyu, who lamented that the strangulating challenges of insecurity in the state and its environs, said insurgency had before now virtually crippled farming activities in the state.
He explained that the association was discussing with government officials on how its members could access part of the N4.9 billion loans to rice farmers under the CBN Anchor Borrower programme.

Ekiti

An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered the
remand of two students of Ekiti State University, Sanya Alabi, 24, and Damilola Onipede, 20, over alleged involvement in cult activities.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Bankole Olasunkanmi, told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on August 8 at about 10.00 p.m. at Iworoko-Ekiti.
Olasunkanmi alleged that the accused persons, on the said date, armed with guns, cutlass and axe, attempted to kill one Oyewole Adebayo.
According to him, the offence contravened Section 320,1(2) of Secret Cult (Abolition and Prohibition) Law, Laws of Ekiti State.
FCT

The National Environmental Standards Regulations and
Enforcement Agency (NESREA), has said that the training of the police on environmental activities, would assist in promoting clean environment in the country.
The agency’s Director-General, Dr Lawrence Anukam, made this disclosure in Abuja in an interview with newsmen
He said that the training would also enable policemen to contribute their quota to the promotion of the nation‘s environmental activities.
“Taking cognizance of the important role the police will play in the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, the agency has started training the police on environmental activities. “Some of the reasons for the agency‘s collaboration with the police is the establishment of Environmental Laws Enforcement Police Unit.

Kaduna

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Kaduna, has handed over
806 livestock and four motorcycles to Operation Yaki, a security outfit coordinated by the Kaduna State Government.
The NAF Base Commander, Air Commodore Bello Garba, disclosed this after handing over the livestock to the State Coordinator of Operation Yaki, Alhaji Yakubu Yusuf.
Garba said that the livestock recovered on August 8, included 665 cows and 141 sheep, adding that they were recovered in Birnin Gwari forest where bandits were operating. He said that during the operation, there was exchange of fire between the Air Force personnel and the rustlers.
Kano

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
says no fewer than 18 persons lost their lives and property worth over N700 million destroyed by flood in Kano State in the past two weeks.
This is contained in a statement by the North-West Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Alhaji Musa Ilallah in Kano.
According to the statement, the massive flood ravaged the 22 local government areas of the state.
It said that properties, including houses and farmlands were lost to the floods by no fewer than 1000 persons.
“The worst affected local government areas are Shanono, Bagwai, Kiru with 749 victims and N347million worth of properties damaged.
Kogi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Kogi State command, has arrested a truck driver carrying 1,126.9kg of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) worth over N5 million.
NDLEA Commander in Kogi State, Alhaji Idris Bello, made the disclosure while parading the suspect and three others before journalists in Lokoja.
He said that the driver was arrested near Kabba junction on the Lokoja-Abuja highway. He said that the illicit drug was concealed in 100 big bags.
Bello said that the driver told NDLEA operatives that he was conveying the Indian hemp from Uromi in Edo State to Kaduna.
Lagos

The wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo,
has appealed to organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support the needy and malnourished children in the country.
Osinbajo made the appeal at the launch of the “Get Involved” initiative to prevent annual death of thousands of malnourished Nigerian children in the internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Lagos.
According to her, the gesture can be in form of material items.
The wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, launched the ‘Get Involved’ initiative at the State House, Abuja on July 21.
“We are appealing to all Nigerians to get involved in providing humanitarian support for these needy and malnourished children in the country, especially those in the IDP camps.
Nasarawa

District heads and community leaders will be held re
sponsible for breach of peace in their domains, Dr Bala Angbazo, the Aren Eggon of Eggon nation in Nasarawa State, has warned.
Angbazo gave the warning when he received the State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Bello at his palace in Nasarawa Eggon. The paramount ruler, who was reacting to the alleged resurgence of the “Ombatse” cult group, tasked district heads and chiefs to rise up to the occasion in order to nip any incidence in the bud.
Niger

The Students Union Government (SUG), College of Edu
cation, Minna, Niger State, has called on the state government to compensate the family of a pregnant student killed by an articulated vehicle.
SUG President of the college, Mr Ahmad Tafyan, made the call in Minna in an interview with newsmen.
The deceased, Mrs Angela Daniel was killed by the vehicle on Monday afternoon while on a motorcycle conveying her home after lectures along with another student who narrowly escaped with injuries. The incident triggered demonstration by students of the college who blocked the Minna/Suleja dual carriageway for over four hours until the police intervened.

Oyo

The Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) has called
for the formulation of a national policy on livestock breeding.
The Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Prof. Eustace Iyayi, made the call at a lecture organised by the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan.
Iyayi, who spoke on “Sustainable Innovations in the Present Day Nigeria’s Animal Production Industry,’’ said such policy would bring a sustainable innovation in animal production industry.
He stressed the need to tackle problems associated with drivers of livestock production through research.
“We need national livestock census to ascertain the number of animals for production; renovation in breeding and molecular genetics.

Sokoto

A total of 1, 500 intending pilgrims from Sokoto and
Zamfara States have been transported to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj from the Sultan Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto, an official has said.
Alhaji Abubakar Kaoje, Sokoto Zonal Coordinator of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said that the pilgrims were taken directly to Medina.
Kaoje told newsmen in Sokoto State that the pilgrims were transported between August 8 and 10 by Max Airline.
He said that 1000 of those transported were from Zamfara while 500 came from Sokoto state.
The coordinator expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise and commended the airline for keeping to schedule.
Zamfara

A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member of
Batch B, Stream 2, 2015/2016, Mr Umar Abubakar, has planted 100 trees in Matazu-Filin Jirgi Community in Gusau, Zamfara.
The Corps member, who was serving in the state’s Ministry of Justice and an indigene of Bauchi State, planted the trees under his Community Development Service Project (CDS).
Launching the tree planting yesterday, the State’s NYSC Coordinator, Malam Ballama Bello, described the corps member as ‘a patriotic and dedicated Nigerian’.
Bello represented by the Head of CDS in the state NYSC Secretariat, Mr Mamman Adamu, said that CDS was one of the major cardinals of the NYSC scheme that provides direct benefits to the corps member’s host community.
“Even in the NYSC three weeks orientation course in the camp, we give emphasis to the CDS because it gives maximum contributions to the development of communities, especially in the rural areas.
“On behalf of the Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Sulaiman Kazaure, the entire staff and NYSC in Zamfara, I commend you on this wonderful and encouraging effort”.

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.