Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

December 5, 2014

Benue

Ex Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr Sam Ode, has
pledged to reform the Benue local government administration system for effective and efficient grassroots development.
Ode said this in Makurdi while declaring his intention to contest the PDP governorship ticket in the state.
He blamed poor institutional governance and policy leakages for the inability of the local government administration to properly play its historic role in the development process of the country.
“The local government is the closest tier of government to the generality of our people.
“Yet, due to policy leakages and poor institutional governance, the local government has not been placed to properly play its historic role in the development process of the country.”

Bauchi

The Tax Enforcement Team of the Federal Inland Rev
enue Service (FIRS) has sealed the premises of the Bauchi State Investment Company (BIC) and Abdulrashid Tyre Company over alleged tax evasion.
Our correspondent reports that the FIRS officials, led by the Tax Controller, Mr Richard Magaji, sealed the firms in Bauchi recently.
The sealing of the companies, followed the inability of the companies to pay various sums amounting to over N22 million.
Magaji told reporters at the BIC premises that the company had an outstanding balance of N8 million to pay to the FIRS.
He said that official and personal efforts made by officials of the FIRS to get BIC to pay even part of the debt had proved abortive, noting that the FIRS had no option than to seal up the premises.

FCT

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has called
on Nigerians to support the Armed Forces in their fight against insurgency in the country.
Gowon made the call recently at the Church of Nigeria’s end of year thanksgiving service held at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Abuja.
He said recent happenings in the country indicated that the insurgents were not after Christians alone, stressing that all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethno-religious backgrounds, are potential targets.
“It is the responsibility of every Nigerian not only the armed forces to do whatever they need to do in order to restore peace to our country.
“Dealing with the problem of insurgency that is disturbing the country requires the cooperation of all Nigerians, whether you are a Christian or a Muslim.

Kano

Former military Head of State and APC presidential
aspirant, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has urged Nigerians to be security conscious so as to curb the activities of insurgents in the country.
Buhari made the call while speaking with newsmen shortly after he visited victims of Friday’s bomb attack at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital in Kano recently.
“There is nothing we can do about it other than for people to be more vigilant and security conscious.
“There is the need for people to be more vigilant at mosques, churches and schools, as well as wherever they may find themselves,’’ he said.
The former Nigerian leader, however, called on Nigerians to support security agencies in their bid to check the dastard acts being perpetrated by the insurgents.

Kaduna

Former Sole Administrator, Zaria Local Government,
Alhaji Umar Ibrahim-Rabagaddama, has advised politicians aspiring for different elective positions in the country to play politics without bitterness.
He told newsmen in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Tuesday that the call became imperative in view of the current political scenario in the country.
Ibrahim-Rabagaddama is aspiring to be the PDP flag bearer for House of Representatives seat of Zaria Local Government.
“I want to urge all aspirants across the country to play politics without bitterness and resort to campaign of issues which will facilitate national growth and development.
“Let me use this medium also to call on electorate to vote credible candidates with vision and mission who will provide quality and good representation,” he noted.

Kwara

Thirteen governorship aspirants on the platform of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara said they had agreed to abide by the outcome of Saturday’s governorship primary in the state.
The aspirants, who jointly signed an undertaking, promised to work for whoever emerged as the candidate for the success of the party at the poll.
A copy of the undertaking was made available to newsmen in Ilorin recently.
The Publicity Committee Chairman of PDP in the state, Chief Rex Olawoye who confirmed the meeting, said the 14th aspirant, Mr Dele Belgore, did not sign the undertaking because he was not at the meeting.

Lagos

A Federal High Court in Lagos, recently, ordered the
release of five employees of the All Progressives Congress (APC), detained by the Department of Security Service (DSS).
The employees: Chinedu Atuche, Fayemi Olaposi, Augustine Onuchukwu, Ebun Ilori, and Esther Enemy, were arrested on November 22.
The officials of DSS, accompanied by the police, had raided a building which houses the APC’s data office on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
The DSS said the raid was informed by intelligence report that some unwholesome activities were being perpetrated within the said building.
Justice Mohammed Yunusa ordered their release while ruling on a suit filed by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) on behalf of the applicants, seeking enforcement of their fundamental rights.
Also joined in the suit is the Nigeria Police Force.
Osun

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said 94
persons were convicted for traffic offences in Osun between September and November.
The FRSC Sector Commander in the state,Mr Muhammad Hussaini, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo.
Hussaini said 43 offenders were prosecuted and convicted in September, while 51 offenders were convicted by mobile courts in November.
He said the offences include: failure to use seat belt; driving without valid vehicle particulars and licences; drunk driving; driving against traffic and dangerous driving.
The sector commander said the courts had ordered the convicts to pay fines ranging from N2,000 to N50,000, depending on the offence committed.

Ogun

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said one
person died and 14 others sustained various degrees of injuries in an accident that occurred along the Toll-Gate at Sango-Ota in Ogun recently. The Sango-Ota Unit Commander of the FRSC, Mr Omatu Sunday, told newsmen in Sango-Ota that the accident occurred at about 9:50 a.m., due to alleged carelessness of a Dangote Group driver.
Sunday said the accident involved five vehicles, including an Acura Jeep with registration number GGE-447BJ, a commercial bus with registration number KSF-537 XK, Toyota Jeep with registration number YAB-103 RU, a Dangote trailer with registration number XA 364-GKP and IVECO truck with registration number KTU-394 XJ.
He said that the brake of the Dangote trailer that was heading to Lagos failed and ran into four vehicles which resulted in the death of a conductor in a commercial bus while 14 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Sokoto

A former board member of the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN), Alhaji Sa’idu Gumburawa, has said that the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 will sustain the success of the ongoing transformation agenda.
‘’ So, the endorsement of Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) is a welcome development and a good omen for the party, Nigerians and Nigeria,’’ Gumburawa told newsmen in Sokoto recently.
Gumburawa, who represented the Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency in Sokoto State on the platform of the PDP, also expressed happiness that the party is waxing stronger at all levels.
The former lawmaker, who is now a chieftain of the PDP in Sokoto State, further expressed optimism that Jonathan was capable of surmounting all the current challenges plaguing Nigeria, including security.

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto (right), presenting Rice and Cash to the needy in Sokoto, recently.

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.