Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

August 7, 2017

Benue
The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last Tuesday, expressed surprise that workers were owed 12 months salaries, and urged the people to “ask questions and demand answers”.
The party, at a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, said that the state government had no reason to owe workers because it had received monies from “various fronts”.
“Benue has taken loans. It has collected the Paris Club Refunds and received bailout funds from the Federal Government. The regular federal allocations and Internally Generated Revenue have also been coming in.
“In the past two years, much monies have entered the state account; Benue has no reason to owe workers. We must ask questions and demand answers,” former interior minister, Abba Moro, who chaired the meeting, said.
He challenged the people to insist on prudent management of resources to enable government meet its obligations.

Borno
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) last Thursday urged residents of Maiduguri not to panic over spate of aircraft hovering the sky at night in the metropolis.
Spokesman of NAF 105 Composite Group, Maiduguri, Squadron Leader Obi Obassi, said that the flying was part of routine exercise.
Obassi said that the service had intensified training at night time, adding that it was imperative to inform members of the public about the exercise so as to avoid exposing them to fear.
“It has come to the notice of 105 Composite Group, Nigerian Air Force, that residents of Maiduguri are expressing fear over our aircraft that flies at night”, he said.

Ekiti
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ekiti State Command, last Tuesday, said it had destroyed 246 tonnes of cannabis sativa (weeds) in the state.
The Commander of the agency, Alhaji Bage Bamaiyi, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti.
According to scientists, cannabis sativa, otherwise known as Indian hemp, is a drug obtained from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant which is smoked or chewed for its psychoactive properties.
It produces euphoria and relaxation whose repeated use may lead to psychological dependence.
He said the command took necessary steps to uncover 17 cannabis sativa farms at Ode-Ekiti, in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State but that the peddlers were not found in their hide-outs.

FCT
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kuje Unit Command, last Thursday, urged school bus drivers in the area to drive carefully and avoid the use of expired tyres to prevent road crashes.
The Kuje Unit Commander Mr Igbogbo Solomon, made the call in an interview with newsmen while speaking on the activities of the unit.
Solomon stressed the need for school bus drivers to adhere strictly to traffic rules to ensure the safety of the children.
He reminded them of the dangers of using expired tyres and the benefits of constant vehicle maintenance.
“There is the need to ensure safety on our roads and ensure that school bus drivers adhere strictly to road traffic rules to prevent road accidents.

Jigawa
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Jigawa State chapter, has demanded justice over the alleged killing of a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Dutse by security operatives.
The NBA Chairman in the state, Baffa Alhassan, spoke last Wednesday while reacting to the alleged killing of one Hussaini Andaza by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Alhassan said the use of excessive force by security personnel was totally unacceptable to the association.
He urged the Police and the NSCDC to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

Kogi
Director-General, Kogi State Bureau of Information Services, Mr Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, has offered scholarships to 35 orphans from various communities in Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Abdulmalik announced the gesture recently in Ihima, at the grand finale of Ihima Students Union 2017 Spelling Bee, Quiz and Debate Competition.
He said that the scholarship would cover the primary and secondary education of the beneficiaries.
Abdulmalik also announced that he would pay next term’s school fees for all students that participated in the spelling, quiz and debate competitions which he sponsored as a pet project to boost educational growth.

Kwara
The police in Kwara State are on the trail of an Ilorin-based Islamic cleric, who allegedly exhumed the corpse of his late friend for ritual purpose.
The cleric, a resident of Eleran compound in Oloje area of Ilorin and said to be in his 30s, allegedly exhumed the remains of his childhood friend last Tuesday, seven days after his death.
A source, who confided in newsmen said that the community became aware of the development when the odour of the decomposing body permeated the area.
He told newsmen last Wednesday in Ilorin that members of the community had to embark on a search when the odour became unbearable.

Lagos
A 26- year-old man, Okechukwu Mgbemgasa, who allegedly defiled his neighbour’s daughter, was last Thursday charged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.
He is facing a one-count charge of defiling a nine-year-old girl.
The accused is an unemployed man and a resident of Ishashi town, a suburb of Lagos.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Raphael Donny, told the court that the offence was committed on July 21, at the residence of the accused.
Donny said that the accused saw the girl in the toilet and took advantage of the situation and defiled her.
“It was the cry of the girl that alerted some neighbours who raced to the scene, and the accused was apprehended.

Nasarawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),Nasarawa State Command, says it has trained over 400 personnel on arms bearing this year to curb activities of vandals in the state.
The Commandant of the corps, Mr Lawan Bashir-Kano, disclosed this to newsmen in Lafia, last Thursday.
Bashir-Kano said that the corps was determined to rid the state of vandals and other criminal elements.
He said the first batch of the arms-bearing personnel were trained earlier in the year in collaboration with the 177 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army.

Niger
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar, last Wednesday, inaugurated a storey-building containing 18 units of two bedroom flats for non-commissioned officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Minna, Niger State.
Abubakar inaugurated the building at the Air Force base, Minna.
He said that the Air Force had dedicated the facility to late Lance Corporal Tanko DJ who died during operation Zaman Lafiya on April 28, 2016 in the North-East.
“This is aimed at enhancing the morale of Nigerian Air Force officers and men in service.
“This is to assure you that your supreme sacrifice to our fatherland will never go in vain,” he said.
He said that NAF was committed to the well being of its personnel, hence creating enabling environment for their effective service delivery to the country.
Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, AVM Lawal Alooma, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work.

Osun
An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun State last Wednesday, remanded in prison a businesswoman, Uche Portia, with her five-month-old baby, pending the perfection of her bail condition.
Portia, 29, is facing a charge of fraud and stealing.
The Magistrate, Mrs Dorcas Ajiboye, had granted the accused N200, 000 bail with one surety in like sum.
She said the surety must swear to an affidavit of means and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
In addition, the surety must produce three years tax clearance and provide two recent passport photographs.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 16 at Igboye House, Ile-Ife.

Yobe
Senator Mohammed Hassan (APC-Yobe South), recently promised to give N20,000 as scholarship to 880 undergraduates from 44 wards in his constitutency.
Hassan made this known at an interaction with newsmen in Potiskum after the commissioning of various projects.
Hassan, who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said the beneficiaries would be selected from students studying in different institutions of higher learning.
The lawmaker added that he would also pay the salaries of staff of Mohammed Hassan Arabic and Islamic School in Arikime apart from the provision of uniforms to the students.
Hassan pledged to donate N2.5 million for the rehabilitation of Fatahul Rahaman Islamic School in his constituency, in line with his conviction that education is one of the greatest legacies to bequeath the future generation.

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.