Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

January 16, 2017

Benue

The Benue State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says it has arrested a woman, who allegedly stole a Pastor’s car.
Its Commandant, Mr Shuaib Jubril, said in Makurdi that the clergy man was travelling from Taraba State to Makurdi when he lost the car to the woman.
Jubril, who was briefing newsmen on the activities of the command during the Yuletide, however, refused to give the name of the suspect and the circumstances of the crime.
He commended personnel of the corps for striving toward a crime-free Christmas and New Year celebrations, and revealed that many arrests were made and handed over to the police as it was not within the jurisdiction of the corps to prosecute suspects.
Borno
The Borno State Government has announced the ban on operations of illegal motor parks in the state to ensure safety of lives and property.
The state‘s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Kakashehu Lawan, made the announcement while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Lawan, who said that the operations of the parks had been a source of concern to the government, said the decision was part of efforts to consolidate the emerging peace in the state.
He averred that the government had a duty to ensure maintenance of peace and harmony in the society, hence the drastic action.
He said that the government would prosecute commercial vehicle owners found contravening the order.
Gombe
Gombe State Transport Service has concluded plans to procure 100 new vehicles in 2017 to enhance its services, the Secretary of the company, Abdullahi Muhammad, has said.
Muhammad told newsmen in Gombe that Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo had given approval for the procurement.
According to him, each of the vehicles to be procured through Remarkable Trust Company, will gulf N17.7 million.
The secretary explained that the money for the vehicles would be repaid by the company within three to four years.
The secretary said two fatal accidents were recorded by the company in 2016, adding that the low accident rate was due to the training and retraining of its drivers by the Federal Road Safety Corps and Vehicle Inspection Officers.
Kaduna
The Zonal Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Zone 1, Mr. Bulus Darwang has advised senior officers and marshals of the commission to be professional in carrying out their assignments.
Darwang gave the advice in Kaduna after decorating some of the newly promoted senior officers of the commission in the zone comprising of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.
He also stressed the need for the officers and marshals to operate within the confines of the law while on duty on the highways to gain the confidence of the motoring public.
The commander also asked the newly promoted officers to consider their elevation as an impetus toward enhanced productivity.
Kano
The Kano State Government has earmarked over N167 billion for the construction of an international market in the state to be called ‘Kanawa Market.‘
The state’s Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Alhaji Rabiu Bako disclosed this in Kano, while briefing newsmen.
According to Bako, the construction of the modern market with over 9,000 shops for traders,will boost global commercial activities in the state.
He said that the market would attract the attention of foreign investors to invest in diverse business opportunities in the state.
Bako added that the construction of the market would be a joint venture between the state government and an indigenous construction company.

Katsina

A girl, Habiba Ishaku, 18, last Wednesday disassociated herslef from a suit purpotedly instituted on her behalf by a foundation and the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) over her conversion to Islam.
The girl had eloped, embraced Islam and married one Jamilu Lawal in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Her father, Mr Ishaku Tanko, had gone to a Katsina High Court in collaboration with Trustees of Stefanos Foundation and ECWA to challenge the action, claiming that Habiba was a minor.
During the court sitting last Wednesday, the judge, Justice Baraka Iliyasu-Wali, drew the attention of the plaintiff and defence counsels to a letter addressed to the court by Habiba, disassociating herself from the suit.
Kwara
The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ilorin Chapter, Prof. Timothy Popoola has applauded the sack of the Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Jim Obazee by the Federal Government.
Popoola, in a statement, said the dissolution of the board and the sack of its scribe was commendable as “the church is not a company where the leader could just be replaced.”
“The church is not where you can just put somebody because he is capable. It is a ministry where God appoints people.
“So, I applaud President Buhari for recognising this and his action will bring peace into the mind of many agitated leaders of the church,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari last Monday announced the dismissal of Obazee who had earlier effected the Corporate Governance Code.
Nasarawa
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has appointed Mrs Zainab Isah as its new coordinator in Nasarawa State.
A statement by the NYSC said that Isah took over from Mrs Habiba Bappah, who has been transferred to its headquarters in Abuja.
Until her new appointment, Isah was a deputy director, Planning, Research and Statistics at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja.
The new state coordinator, who had resumed duty, solicited the cooperation of the people of Nasarawa State to enable her succeed in her new assignment, the statement said.
Niger
Many sympathizers across the country converged on Minna, the Niger State capital, to pay tribute to late former governor, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure, who was buried last Wednesday.
Kure, a formaer governor of the state died penultimate Sunday in a German hospital.
The sympathizers, who spoke to newsmen in Minna, described the late governor as a great leader and peace maker.
Former Senate Deputy President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, said that late Kure would be missed for his wise counsel and contributions to the growth and development of the country.
Ondo

The Cocoa Exporters Association of Nigeria has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nexim Bank to urgently do something about the disbursement of the N500 billion Federal Government loan for non- oil export.
The National Secretary of the association, Mr Kayode Babade, made the call in an interview with the newsmen in Akure.
According to him, the disbursement is imperative considering the recent crash of crude oil price and the dwindling foreign exchange flow in the country.
Babade, however, said that barely a year after the release of the fund the exporters were yet to see the fund readily available for disbursement.
Also speaking, the National President of the association, Mr Pius Ayodele, called on the authorities to start disbursing the fund in the best interest of the nation’s economy.
Osun
An Osun Magistrates’ Court has remanded in prison a 29-year-old man, Emmanuel Oladayo, who scaled the fence of a house to steal a motorcycle.
Magistrate Risikat Olayemi, sitting in Ile-Ife, said the accused should remain behind bars pending when the bail conditions would be perfected.
She had granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like amount.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on January 8 at about 1.39 a.m. at No. 136, Fajuyi Road, Ile-Ife.
Osanyintuyi said the accused scaled the fence of the house of the complainant, Emmanuel Adebimpe, and stole the motorcycle parked there.
Oyo

The deposed Baale of Olode town in Oluyole Local government Area of Oyo State, Chief Lukman Alao, has challenged in court, his removal from office by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
A motion challenging his removal from office by the Olubadan was filed at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.
Alao also claimed N2 million in general damages for the “ pain, embarrassment and degradation he suffered’’ over what he called his unlawful deposition by the Olubadan
The petitioner was removed from office last Monday and a new Baale appointed and sworn-in immediately.
Alao, in a motion on notice filed by his counsel, Mr Saani Oyedele, joined the Olubadan-in-Council, Oluyole Local Government Council and the new Baale, Dauda Odeyemi, as co-respondents.
Besides, he also claimed that the new Baale was not qualified to occupy the position as he was not a member of the Olode chieftaincy family.

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.