Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

September 13, 2017

Borno
The Force Commander (FC) Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor has commended troops of Sector 1 Task Force in Cameroon for their gallantry effort in fighting the Boko Haram terrorists.
Irabor gave the commendation when he paid an operational visit on the troops in Mora in Cameroon Republic.
The MNJTF Information Officer Col. Mustapha Anka stated this in a statement in Maiduguri last Monday.
Anka quoted the commander as promising additional support for the troops to enhance their operations.
“On arrival, the commander and his entourage were received by the Commander Sector 1, Brig.-Gen. Dobekreo, who presented a detailed brief on the activities, achievements and prospects of the formation in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

Ekiti
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) chapter has joined the ongoing national strike, the chapter’s President, Dr Tunji Olaoye has said.
Olaoye told newsmen in Ado Ekiti yesterday that the chapter decided to shelve its plan to join the nationwide strike because of the ongoing accreditation of the Surgery Department of the institution.
A correspondent that visited the hospital yesterday observed that normal activities were still ongoing in the various wards with doctors and other medical personnel attending to patients.
Olaoye said resident doctors in the hospital would join the strike because of poor welfare and in line with its national headquarters’ directives.

Kaduna
The Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board says it has begun the airlift of pilgrims back home from Saudi Arabia.
The Public Relations Officer of the board, Yunusa Abdullahi, said in a statement released in Kaduna on Monday that the first batch of 448 pilgrims arrived the Kaduna International Airport in the early hours of Monday via MedView Airline flight.
“The return journey started after successful completion of Hajj rites by pilgrims from the state,’’ he said.
Abdullahi stated that the second flight is expected to arrive Kaduna on Tuesday evening.
According to him, four pilgrims from the state died while on pilgrimage.
Our correspondent reports that a total of 6,713 pilgrims from the state performed this year’s hajj.

Kano
The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested 1,429 beggars for violating the law banning street begging, between January and August, according to Malam Dahiru Muhammed, an official of the board.
Muhammed, who is specifically attached to the board’s Anti-Begging Unit told newsmen in Kano last Monday that 420 of those arrested were children while 1,009 were adults.
He said that the arrests were carried out around Lodge Road, Magwan Junction, Kwari, Katsina Road and Wapa, all in Kano metropolis.
A further breakdown showed that 860 of them were from Kano city, with 551 coming from Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina and Niger States while 18 were from Chad Republic.

Katsina
The Katsina Pleasant Library and Book Club, an NGO, says it introduced teacher research development skill competition for primary and secondary school teachers in the state.
The Chairman of the Book Club, Alhaji Mutagah Rabe, made this known at the opening ceremony of the sixth meeting of the club in Katsina last Monda.
He said “the competition is to encourage primary and secondary school teachers to embrace research in different subjects.
“We design the competition so that primary school teachers will compete to develop their own researches and prizes will be given to them.”
Rabe said that the organisation was determined to give education the necessary support it deserved and encouragement in Katsina State.

Kwara
The first batch of 555 pilgrims from Kwara State who performed the 2017 Hajj in Saudi Arabia are expected to arrive.
The Executive Secretary of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh disclosed this while speaking with newsmen from Saudi Arabia last Monday.
He said MedView airline had perfected arrangements to transport the first batch of pilgrims to the llorin lnternational Airport.
The Executive Secretary, who did not give the specific time the pilgrims would arrive the llorin international Airport said all the 555 pilgrims were already in high spirits to meet their relations at home.

Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State last Monday announced that the state government had restored the full payment of salaries and allowances of its civil servants.
Al-Makura announced this in Lafia at the commencement of a five-day retreat organised for Permanent Secretaries, Directors and labour officials in the state.
He also announced the promotion of over 9,000 civil servants in the state.
He said that government restored the full payment of the salaries and allowances in order to boost the morale of the workers.

Niger
A 35-year-old rape suspect, Ahmadu Musa last Monday confessed to the Niger State Child Rights Protection Agency how he sexually abused a 4-year-old girl in Minna.
Musa, a resident of New Market, near Gwari Market, Chanchaga Local Government Area admitted that he sexually abused the victim once but could not recall the exact date and month.
“I saw her passing in front of my house, I called her to buy pure water for me, I then lured her and had sex with her.
“The second time I called the girl to the uncompleted building and I was about removing my trouser to urinate before the act when I was caught,” he said.

Ondo
The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), last Monday inspected facilities at the Federal Government’s Vocational Training Centre located in Agadabga Obon-Arogbo, Ese-Odo Local Government Area, Ondo State.
Boroh also the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s sincere commitment to the peace and infrastructural development of the region had built confidence in the people of the region.
The coordinator expressed readiness to continue with the ongoing training and empowerment of delegates.
He promised to engage qualified beneficiaries of the educational scholarship with first and second degrees in relevant disciplines as instructors and teachers both at the centre and in existing schools in the community.

Osun
Prof. Adegboyega Fawole of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) has warned that Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) has been found in the throats of people engaging in oral sex.
Fawole, who is of the Department of Gynaecology, UITH told newsmen in Ilorin yesterday that HPV was mostly sexually transmitted.
He said that the virus caused almost all cases of cervical cancer and could cause genital warts and anal cancer.
“Oral sex has been linked with an increased risk of acquiring HPV infection in the mouth and with an increased risk of developing oral cancers that are caused by HPV.
“However, sex in general has also been linked with these risks,” he said.
The gynaecologist warned that those engaging in oral sex were twice more likely to have oral HPV infection than those who did not engage in oral sex.

Sokoto
The first batch of 563 pilgrims from Sokoto State who performed the hajj in Saudi Arabia have returned home.
The pilgrims arrived Sultan Abubakar International Airport Sokoto aboard Max Airline last Sunday and were received a member of the state Hajj Team, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu
Our correspondent also reports that the first batch left Nigeria for the Holy Land on July 31, while the state government completed transportation of its 4, 859 pilgrims on August 24.
Maigwandu told newsmen that the pilgrims from Gada and Sabonbirni Local Government Areas, were in good health.
The official said the Hajj operation has been successful so far and commended Governor Aminu Tambuwal, airline operators, individuals and voluntary groups for the feat recorded.

Zamfara
Workers under the employment of Zamfara State Government last Monday embarked on an indefinite strike for the failure of the government to meet their several demands.
The workers had earlier given the government a 21-day ultimatum to meet certain demands or face industrial action.
The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Bashir Mafara announced the decision after a joint meeting of the affiliated unions in Gusau.
He said Zamfara workers were faced with a number of problems which include failure to pay the salaries of 1,400 recruited by the government more than two years ago, non payment of backlog of pension and gratuities, non payment of minimum wage to primary school teachers and local government employees as well as non-payment of annual salary increment.
He said the two labour unions, Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress had decided to declare an indefinite industrial action throughout the state from September 12.

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.