Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

September 4, 2017

Adamawa
A Yola High Court last Wednesday restrained Mr Jerry Judah from parading himself as the Adamawa State Chairman of the newly registered Advanced People Democratic Alliance (APDA).
Judah was dragged to the court by protem state chairman of the party, Alhaji Umar Jada who prayed the court to restrain the respondent from parading himself as APDA chairman pending the determination of the case.
Justice Helen Hammanjoda said having the gone through the application, the court was satisfied with plaintiff’s submission and granted the relief sought.
“I accordingly grant the following reliefs sought in their application.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondent from holding out and parading himself as the state chairman of the 1st applicant pending the determination of the motion on notice.

FCT
Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson and Secretary for International Development, Ms. Priti Patel last Thursday met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in continuation of their official visit to Nigeria.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Johnson said United Kingdom was ready to assist Nigeria in humanitarian development and military fronts.
He described Nigeria as an “incredible country and power house of the African economy’’.
“This is an incredible place. It is the power house of the African economy. We are here with Nigeria every step of the way,’’ he stated.
The envoy said the delegation had fruitful meeting with Osinbajo and looked forward to better relationship with Nigeria

Gombe
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has graduated 500 youths in Gombe State on various skills as part of effort to empower them.
Reports indicate that the Bauchi State Area Office of the fund organised the programme and trained the youths in tailoring, knitting, pomade, soap making, hair dressing and carpentry.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony last Thursday, the Director-General of ITF, Mr Joseph Ari said that the programme was one of the present administration’s policies of job creation and wealth generation.
“The policy is aimed at ensuring that as many youths are equipped with employability skills and entrepreneurship.
“I am pleased to inform you that according to our tracking and monitoring system, over 70 per cent of beneficiaries are now gainfully employed and successful entrepreneurs,’’ Ari said.

Kaduna
The National Museum, Kaduna State will host children to a cultural fiesta on Sallah day to mark the Eid-el-Kabir festival, its Curator Mr Gimba Ahmed, has said.
The Curator, in a statement made available to newsmen last Thursday in Kaduna indicated that the event would include lectures, cultural displays, dances and language competition among others.
Ahmed said that the main focus would be on culture, values, morals and beliefs “because modernisation is fast eroding our culture and our children cultural sense is beginning to fade.’’
He added that the children will act in plays, dress in their traditional attire, engage in dancing competition as well as listen to lectures on culture and security.

Kano
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kano State chapter has called on banks operating ATM machines across the state to improve their services by providing adequate funds.
This is contained in a statement by the NLC Chairman in the state, Mr Kabiru Minjibir and made available to newsmen last Wednesday in Kano.
He said there was need for them to improve their services in view of the high demand for cash arising from the forthcoming Sallah celebration
He said, “Banks are hereby strongly advised to note that the Congress would not fold its arms and watch workers being helplessly frustrated unnecessarily due to the inability of the banks to discharge their responsibilities”.

Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has urged Muslims in the state to dedicate the Eid el-Kabir celebration to pray for unity and peace in the country.
He made the call in a Sallah message to the people of the state signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, last Thursday in Ilorin.
Muslims all over the world celebrated Eid el-Kabir last Friday, being the 10th day of Dhul Hijja in the Islamic calendar.
Eid el-Kabir is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of prophet Ibrahim to obey Allah’s command to sacrifice his son Ishmael, where the Almighty provided him with a ram to slaughter instead of his son.

Lagos
The Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN) last Thursday urged Nigerians and Muslims to pray for the nation’s unity during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The association advised them to also use the occasion when they remember the encounter between God and Abraham on the mountain to pray against hate campaigns and other divisive tendencies among Nigerians.
CAMPAN said that the period and beyond should be used to preach and spread love, peace, unity and togetherness among Nigerians for them to build a stronger nation.
“We must not allow anything to divide us; but learn to live together as one indivisible country no matter our diverse ethnic groups”, the association said in a statement signed by its National President, Mr Patrick Osu.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government lastThursday said that local government workers in the state would receive between 60 and 80 per cent of their August salaries.
The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Haruna Osegba, disclosed this after the state’s Joint Account Committee (JAC) meeting in Lafia.
Osegba attributed the salary cut to the shortfall in the amount that accrued to the local government councils from the Federation Account.
According to him, the 13 local government councils in the state shared only N1.5 billion from the federation account for the month of April with a shortfall of 700 million.

Niger
Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State has called on Nigerians to use this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration to fix the country.
Bello said in a statement to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration last Thursday in Minna, that there was no better time to reposition the country for greatness than now.
He urged Nigerians not to allow the present administration’s zeal and commitment in tackling the country’s challenges go in vain.
The governor said the state and federal governments had exhibited high sense of commitment to move the country towards greatness.

Plateau
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Plateau State chapter last Wednesday in Jos organised a seminar to sensitise children aged between 10 and 15 on the dangers of rape.
The Chairperson of NAWOJ in the state, Mrs Jenifer Yarima said the seminar had become necessary due to the increase in number of rape cases involving minors in the country.
Yarima said at the seminar titled, “Rape: Endangering the Lives of Our Children,’’ that many girls had dropped out of school because of unwantedpregnancies resulting from rape.
She said that other victims of the crime were compelled to abort such pregnancies that threatened their lives.
“We want to educate children on the need to watch out for likely perpetrators of rape in schools and around their neighborhoods.
“We are worried that parents find it difficult to educate their children on sexuality to serve as a guide to healthy living. Eevery child deserves to live a quality life,’’ she said.

Sokoto
Senator Aliyu Wamakko, representing Sokoto North Senatorial District last Thursday secured the freedom of 21 inmates of Sokoto Central Prison after paying their N2.1 million fine.
Wamakko, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education was represented at the event by Mr Bashir Jodi, Secretary, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko Free Legal Services.
“The gesture is aimed at enabling the beneficiaries to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir with their various families; such kind of philanthropic acts are highly encouraged during the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah,” he said.
The senator admonished the freed inmates to steer clear of all nefarious acts that would bring them back to jail.
The beneficiaries, in separate comments, commended Wamakko for the gesture and promised to shun crimes and other wayward behaviours.

Zamfara
The Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Chika-Ibrahim has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide additional Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection centres in Zamfara State .
The emir made the call in Maru last Thursday while receiving the State Government’s Committee on Voter Mobilisation members who visited the emirate.
Reports indicate that the committee was in the emirate to inaugurate a sub-committee on PVC collection for Maru Local Government Area.
The emir said that only one collection centre was inadequate for a whole local government area because some communities were far from the headquarters where the centres were located.
“You are aware of the economic hardship we have in this country now, some people are looking for just what to eat”, the emir said .

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.