Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

January 19, 2015

The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in
Nigeria (NEPLWHAN) has urged the Bauchi State House of Assembly to pass anti-discrimination and stigmatisation bill into law.
The state chairman of the association, Malam Usman Zico, made the call on Thursday in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.
Zico called on the house to pass the proposed law before the end of the current legislative assembly and present administration in the state.
He said that the bill should also be guided with penalties and fines for offenders as measures to stop acts of stigma and discrimination against his members.
According to him, the law would protect the dignity of people living with the virus.
“The State House of Assembly should look into the discrimination and stigmatisation bill, so that it becomes law before the end of the present administration and penalties be stated on any one found wanting either in public places or in gatherings,’’ he said.

Benue

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State,
said it would sue two radio stations in the state for libel.
The party’s Organizing Secretary, Mr Tutus Zaam told newsmen in Makurdi that it would drag Radio Benue and Ashi Waves to court as soon as the strike by judiciary workers was over.
Our correspondent reports that Radio Benue is owned by the state government, while Ashi Waves, based in Katsina-Ala, is owned by Dr Terkula Suswam, the elder brother to Gov. Gabriel Suswam.
The organising secretary alleged that the two stations have been “broadcasting libelous information about the party and its candidates on the forthcoming elections in the state.”
Zaam said that the APC had already contacted its lawyers, and would file the necessary papers before court after the nationwide strike.

Ekiti

The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs Feyisetan
Fayose, has donated cash gifts to 20 patients at the State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.
The donation was part of activities marking her 51st birthday, which started last week Thursday.
Making the donation during a visit to the hospital in company of other government functionaries, she said the money was from her personal purse.
Fayose said that the gesture was borne out of her love and passion for the less privileged in the society.
She noted that the donation was also to support the governor at making life more meaningful for the people.

FCT

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex
Badeh, on Thursday said the military had provided enough welfare package for the families of fallen heroes.
Badeh made this known in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Abuja.
He said: “The armed forces generally have so much welfare package for the loved ones left behind by the fallen heroes.
“The Federal Government introduced group life insurance for them that are different from the ones the services do.
“We try to take care of everyone left behind though we can’t say that we’ll solve everybody’s problems but we’ll do what we can within the law.’’

Katsina

A fire outbreak has destroyed more than 100 shops at
Magama-Jibia border market, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Eye witnesses told newsmen in Jibia that the fire started around 4:00 a.m.
They said the outbreak was suspected to have been caused by an insane person while warming himself due to the intense harmattan cold.
The fire destroyed property including foodstuffs, clothes and other household items worth millions of Naira.
The Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Aminu Lawal, told newsmen that the incident was a setback to business activities in the area.

Kogi

The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) has commenced distribution of permanent voter cards in all the 239 wards in Kogi State.
This was disclosed in a statement in Lokoja by the Public Relations Officer of INEC in Kogi, Mr Mathew Ameh.
Ameh said that the distribution of the cards at ward level was in line with the decision of the organisation to decentralise the distribution of the cards.
The statement urged all registered voters in the state to go to their various polling units to collect the cards, saying that adequate manpower had been deployed to ensure the success of the exercise.
It also said that its headquarters in Lokoja and offices in all the 21 local government areas of the state would remain opened to genuine complaints from members of the public.

Lagos
The Lagos State University (LASU) said that three
seasoned broadcasters had been deployed to the LASU Radio 95.7FM by the state government for excellent broadcast.
The latest edition of the bulletin of the institution made available to newsmen in Lagos identified the broadcasters as Messrs Oluwatunmise Banjoko, George Abayomi and Adeniyi Lawal.
Banjoko, a staff of EKO FM, had worked in various departments of the organisation before his deployment to the institution’s radio station as the Studio Manager.
In the same vein, Abayomi, a seasoned journalist with 11 years experience with the Radio Lagos/EKO FM, is now the LASU Radio’s News Editor.
The bulletin said that Lawal was redeployed as the institution’s radio Studio Engineer as he was grounded in the art of studio engineering.

Osun

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has promised to create job opportunities through agriculture and mining, if elected.
Buhari made the promise while addressing a rally in Osogbo.
According to him, my administration will focus on agriculture and mining as a way to secure jobs for able Nigerians.
“There is a circle of insecurity, unemployment and corruption in the country which I will break when elected next month’’, he said.
He, however, called on Nigerians and party faithful to collect their PVCs and ensure that their votes count during the polls.

Oyo

L-R: Minister of National Planning Commission, Mr Sulaiman Abubakar, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State and Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja.

A former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, said on Wednesday that he left N12 billion in the state’s treasury while leaving office.
Alao-Akala said this in a statement signed by his Director of Public Affairs, Mr Oludare Ogunlana, and made available to newsmen in Ogbomoso.
He described as “untrue’’ the allegation leveled against him by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi that he “ wasted’’ N3 billion in a week.
“I left N12 billion in the state’s coffers without any loan or debt,’’ he said.
The former governor also urged Ajimobi to explain how he spent the reported N100 billion the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the state had collected as allocation.
Alao-Akala also said that neither his wife nor children were arrested both within and outside the country for money laundering or financial recklessness.

Plateau
As corps members engaged in electoral duties prepare for the exercise, Mr Abdulrazaq Salawu, the NYSC Coordinator in Plateau State, on Wednesday cautioned politicians against bribing them to compromise on electoral principles.
“We want to advise politicians against seeking to bribe their way to victory by trying to buy corps members assigned to handle the elections.
“Corps members are young people and politicians should not corrupt or spoil their innocent minds,’’ Salahu said in Jos during a visit to the Jos Zonal Office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said some desperate politicians were always out to influence the outcome of elections by seeking to compromise its handlers and advised corps members to be on the watch out for such characters.
“We have briefed corps members and will continue to do so. The name and image of the NYSC is at stake and must be protected by turning down and possibly reporting such attempts to buy their consciences.

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.