Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

April 21, 2010

FCT

Private security guards are to benefit from the NHIS scheme as part of their welfare through the operators of Private Guards Companies (PCGs).

Mr Paul Ayeni, the Commandant, Private Guards Company (PGC) in the headquarters of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), disclosed this recently in Abuja in an interview with newsmen.

He said that the corps was also interested in seeing that guards were covered by other insurance policies, noting that the welfare of the guards was another concern of the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr Ade Abolurin.

Ayeni said the number of PGCs rose to 507 in 2009, noting, however, that some were dormant in their operations.

He said that 400 licence applications were pending, stressing that those companies that were not functioning in compliance with the guidelines of the NSCDC would soon get their licence withdrawn.

Kaduna

The Federal University Pensioners’ Association, Ahmadu Bello University branch, has advised lovers of the institution to join hands toward progress, peace and tranquility in the institution.

A statement signed by the National President of the union, Dr Ayuba Kura, and made available to newsmen in Zaria on Sunday urged those it described as “trouble-makers” to allow peace to reign.

It noted: “the association strongly warns those who may like to cause trouble to stay away, as members of the association and the Samaru community will not fold their arms and allow them to cause confusion.

“We will not allow detractors to have their day in bringing our great university down for their selfish interest.

“All detractors who do not want peace in ABU are advised to leave the institution before they are fished out.”

It appealed to unions in the institution to support the new vice chancellor for meaningful development.

Kano

Former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji.Adamu Fika, has called for a return to the Parliamentary system of Government, to enhance democracy in the country.

Fika made the suggestion recently in Kano at the 27th Malam Aminu Kano annual memorial lecture, organised by the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Bayero University (BUK), Kano.

“The survival of Nigeria as a genuine democracy with effective opposition, concern for the rule of law and the welfare and wellbeing of the ordinary citizens and residents lies in our return to Parliamentary system,” he said.

The retired technocrat, who spoke on “The Role of The Opposition In Consolidating Democracy In Nigeria”, pointed out that the system provided for effective opposition and real checks and balances in the polity.

According to Fika, the system also makes it possible for “the ordinary grass-root electorate to have a say in the selection of Ministers”.

Katsina

Sandamu Local Government Council says it is constructing a multi-million naira water project that would address the perennial water problem being faced by people of the area.

The council chairman, Alhaji Nasiru Ibrahim who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Sandamu recently, said that the decision to embark on the project was to address the aged-long water scarcity in Sandamu.

He said three boreholes had been drilled, pumping machines procured and an under-ground tank had been constructed in Kagare village under the project, while pipes were now being laid to link up the town from the water source.

The chairman said that the project was expected to be completed by the end of next month.

According to him, the council has been without adequate water supply for about 20 years, hence the resolve of the local council to address the problem.

Kogi

The Kogi Government says it will soon set machinery in motion for the elevation of the annual Ovia Osese Cultural Festival to an international tourist event.

The state’s governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, stated this in Ogori, near Lokoja at that annual celebration of the Ovia Osese festival.

He said government would partner with other stakeholders, including elders of the community and the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to achieve the aim.

Idris described the festival as an annual rallying point for all Ogori sons and daughters that could be exploited to create employment and transform the socio-economic life of the people.

Idris, who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Bala Haruna, commended the people of Ogori for upholding the age-long tradition which he said, had brought them fame and honour.

Lagos

NAFDAC has seized fake drugs and unregistered products worth N260 million that was being smuggled into Nigeria through Seme border.

Dr Paul Orhil, the Director General of NAFDAC, told newsmen in Lagos that the seizure was made at Okokomaiko in Ojo, Lagos during Easter.

Orhil said the culprits wanted to take advantage of the Easter holiday to bring in the illicit products.

“NAFDAC officials, in conjunction with officers of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), intercepted seven trailers loaded with assorted unregistered products worth N200 million,” he said, adding that the interception was made possible by agency’s intelligence network.

“NAFDAC officials were tipped -off by patriotic Nigerians and my men swung into action to carry out the arrest,” he said.

Orhil also said that in another operation at Okokomaiko, also during Easter, enforcement officers intercepted a 3×20 feet container load of suspected fake drugs, worth N60 million

The Tide’s source reports that the NAFDAC, Seme Area Command, headed by Mr Stanley Atabor, recently uncovered the routes being used by smugglers to bring in fake drugs.

Niger

Scores of people were injured on Sunday in Kutigi, the headquarters of Lavun Local Government Area of Niger, when violence erupted at a political rally, organised in honour of Sen. Zainab Kure.

Kure represents Niger South Senatorial District in the Senate.

The Tide’s correspondent reports that the violence erupted, sequel to a song which allegedly lambasted the people of the area.

The source also reports that no sooner had the singer, Alhaji Babaminin Waka, finished his song than youths of the area started beating all those at the scene.

It was gathered that the youths were angry when the singer said that the people should go and look for a way of making money for themselves.

This led to the abrupt cancellation of the event which was meant to precede the inspection of some personal projects, executed by the senator in the constituency.

Osun

Women in Ila-Orangun in Osun have threatened to go naked and make the town ungovernable through violent demonstrations if the court judgment which terminated the appointment of the Orangun of Ila on Friday was enforced.

The women, who were led by the Iyalode of Ila, Chief Funmilayo Oyebode, on a solidarity visit to the dethroned monarch, Oba Wahab Oyedotun, in his palace on Sunday, said the judgment was an abomination and unprecedented in the history of the town.

They added that Oyedotun’s reign since 2003 had brought immeasurable growth and development to the town.

Meanwhile, the deposed monarch has said that he remained the traditional ruler of Ila-Orangun in spite of the judgment of Justice R.A Siyanbola of the state’s High Court that dethroned him.

Oba Oyedotun said this while addressing newsmen in his palace on Sunday.

Oyo

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, and some Nigerian agricultural research bodies have released two new cowpea varieties to raise production and improve farmers’ incomes.

The IITA said in a statement that the varieties were released just as the country’s researchers were finalising plans to attend the Fifth World Cowpea Research Conference taking place from September 27 to Octember 1 in Dakar to discuss cowpea research.

The statement was signed and issued by the institute’s Corporate Communications Officer (West Africa), Mr Godwin Atser.

The new varieties, known as IT89KD-288 and IT89KD-391, were developed by scientists at the IITA in collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the University of Maiduguri and the Agricultural Development Programmes in Borno, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina states.

Both varieties have proved to be superior to the current improved ones being cultivated.

Yobe

Yobe government has announced new water and sanitation policy to ensure adequate water and sanitation at affordable cost and sustainable manner.

The Water Resources Commissioner, Alhaji Barau Sugum, told in Damaturu on Sunday that a draft policy had been submitted to the governor for review and ratification.

He said the major component of the new policy was the elimination of overlapping functions among the line ministries and water agencies.

Barau added that the policy also drew the lines between service delivery, regulation and supervision of water and sanitation programmes.

He explained that the policy had proposed autonomy for water agencies like the water corporation, rural water supply and sanitation agencies, especially on revenue generation, appointments and payment of entitlements.

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.