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Benue
The Society for Gender and Child Advancement recently told the Federal Government to invest more in the training of teachers to engender development.
The Director of the group, Mrs Eva Kyaagba, who made the call at Aliade in Benue State, said that investing in teachers’ training would accelerate the development of basic education nationwide.
Kyaagba was speaking at the opening ceremony of a five-day teachers’ training workshop, at the Mount St. Michele’s Secondary School in Aliade.
The workshop was organised by the society in collaboration with the school.
She said that, the training would expose teachers to various teaching techniques and skills.

Ekiti
A housewife, Adedoyin Babatunde,  recently told an Ikole-Ekiti Customary Court that her love for her husband ceased when  she discovered  he had  three other wives and children.
Reports indicate that the 35-year-old mother of three said she did not know she would be the fourth wife  to bear children for  her  husband .
She said that her husband, Mr Olusola Babatunde, first  proposed to her seven years ago.
Adedoyin  also told the court that, her husband only told her that he had  a child from another woman when they met.
The estranged wife also said  that she confessed to him too that she  too  had a child already.
The plaintiff  said that she discovered in 2015 that her husband, a commercial driver, already had three other women who bore him four children.

FCT
The Senate has urged, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure credibility in Saturday’s bye-election in Osun West Senatorial District.
The call followed the adoption of a motion by Sen. Duro Faseyi (PDP-Ekiti) at plenary last Thursday.
Moving the motion earlier, Faseyi had said that, there were series of allegations and counter-allegations of plot to manipulate the outcome of the election.
He said that, there was tension in Osun West ahead of the Saturday poll for the replacement of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, who died on April 23.
Faseyi said that, INEC must ensure equity, fairness and transparency in the bye-election to enhance its credibility.

Kaduna
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), recently, assured investors in the agricultural sub-sector of adequate security from cattle rustlers and vandals.
A statement by the Kaduna State Command of the corps, said that the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana gave the assurance when he visited Golden Acres Farm located on Kaduna-Abuja Express Way.
The statement, signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Orndiir Terzungwe, quoted the commandant-general as saying that, the establishment of Agro-Rangers unit of the corps was to provide security  to agricultural investments.
“Providing physical security for agric investments and investors has become necessary in supporting the Federal Government’s plan towards diversifying the economy from over dependence on oil to agriculture,” Gana was quoted as saying.

Katsina
Katsina State Government has allocated 10,382 bags of fertilizer to Zango Local Government Area for the 2017 wet season farming.
Senior Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor, Aminu Masari, Alhaji Usman Zango, announced the figure while launching the sale of the commodity in Zango last Wednesday.
Zango is also the Chairman of the Committee on sale and distribution of fertilizer in the local government.
He said that, the commodity would be sold to interesting farmers at the cost of N5,500 per bag at the 98 polling units in the council area.
The chairman said that, each polling unit would be allocated 109 bags of the Urea and NPK.

Kwara
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered 18, 000 voters in Kwara State since the beginning of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on April 27.
The INEC’s Administrative Secretary in the state, Mr Paul Atser, made this known in Ilorin last Thursday while answering questions from journalists during an inspection tour of registration centres.
Atser said that, the commission had also created six additional registration centres in the state.
The administrative secretary said that, the six new centres were spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.
According to him, the centre are Oro Ago, Ajase I, Oke Oyi, Pake, Bani and Malete.

Lagos
The Lagos State House of Assembly, last Monday moved to assess the mid-term performance of the state’s 2017 budget to ascertain how Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state were faring.
The House decided to take the step after the Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Rotimi Olowo, harped on the need for such review.
According to Olowo, reviewing the budget performance in the last six months will help give direction for the 2018 budget estimates, which he noted, could hit the N1trillion mark.
“The exercise will help scrutinise how the MDAs are doing in terms of  the revenue generated, as well as their level of compliance with their capital and recurrent expenditure,” he said.

Nasarawa
The 13 local government areas in Nasarawa State, have shared N1.65 billion for the payment of staff salaries for the month of June.
Mr Haruna Illiya-Osegba, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, made this disclosure to newsmen last Wednesday in Lafia, after the state’s Local Government Joint Account Committee and stakeholders’ meeting.
He explained that, the LGAs in the state got N1.5 billion from the federation account for the month of June.
“The wage bill of the council areas stood at N2.2 billion, making the current allocation insufficient to pay full salaries to the workers.

Niger
A Minna Magistrates’ Court, last Thursday in Minna ordered the remand  of a 33-year-old cleric Paul Aderinwa,  in prison for allegedly raping a minor.
Aderinwa was arraigned on a count charge of rape, contrary to section 283 of the penal code law.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp Gunduma Ibrahim, told the court that, one Oluwatoyin Joseph of Gurara reported the matter at Kpakungu Police Station on June 28.
Ibrahim told the court that the defendant, also a resident of Gurara, invited the  daughter of the  complainant to his house under the pretext of sending her on an  errand.

Osun
Two persons were last Wednesday remanded in custody at the Ilesa Prisons by an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court over the alleged possession of Canniabis Sativa, otherwise known as Indian hemp, and some charms.
The accused persons were Adeleke Nurudeen, 17, and Adeleke Lukman, 16.
They are facing a three-count charge bothering on conspiracy and unlawful possession.
The Magistrate, Mrs Olubukola Olowolagba, gave the order that the accused be kept in prison custody, due to the magnitude of the offences committed.

Plateau
The Plateau State Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, Mr Abudullahi Abbas, last Wednesday said indiscriminate human activities were responsible for flooding in the state.
Abbas, in an interview with newsmen in Jos, noted that the state was blessed with an excellent topography which facilitated free flow of water.
He, however, identified building houses along water ways, dumping of waste in drainages, erection of houses without drainage and poor drainage among the major factors leading to flooding in the state.\
“We, on the Plateau are not meant to be afraid of flooding, because of our topography, if only we avoid the dumping of waste in drainages.

Sokoto
The Zonal Commanding Officer, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Sokoto State, Mr Ayobami Omiyale, has warned personnel of the commission to steer clear of extortion or be ready to face the consequences.
Omiyale, gave the warning on Thursday, in Sokoto at the opening of a retreat on the executive order on the Ease of Doing Business, signed recently by acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Reports that, the retreat has as its theme,”Actualisation of Presidential Order, 001 On Transparency in Doing Business: FRSC Perspective.”
Omiyale said, “you should not receive or demand for bribe; on no occasion should any officer extort money from the motoring public.

Yobe
The Yobe State Government, says it has cleared 1,000 hectares of land to re-engage over 500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into farming.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mustapha Gajerema, said this on Thursday in Damaturu, while inspecting newly procured farm implements.
He said that, the government had procured tractor spare parts, tyres, plough discs, thrashers and other equipment worth N38 million to boost agricultural production in the state this cropping season.
Gajerema said that, the government would provide the IDPs with improved seeds and fertiliser to support their efforts to engage in food production, so as to boost the state’s food security and economic recovery.

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HYPREP Marks 15 Years Of UNEP Report, Highlights Major Cleanup Milestones

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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

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REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

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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.
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Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

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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.
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