Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

May 13, 2015

Adamawa

The Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Ma
ternal, Child and New Born Health (BaSAM-MCNH) has urged stakeholders in the health sector to establish one-on-one dialogue with family members of pregnant women to reduce maternal mortality.
The Chairperson, Advocacy Committee on the Mechanism, Hajiya Yagana Gidado made the call at a meeting with stakeholders in Bauchi.
She said those who had a stake in the health sector must scale-up maternal health campaigns by discussing with heads of families of pregnant women so as to educate them on the assistance pregnant women require to reduce their burden.

Bauchi

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has dissolved
the boards of 20 parastatals agencies and equally disengaged 33 directors-general, a statement said.
According to the statement, the affected establishments are the state’s Muslim and Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Sharia Consultative Council, Bauchi Radio Corporation, Bauchi State Television and Bauchi State Water Board.
Also on the list are Bauchi Development Board, Bauchi State Library Board, Bauchi State Agricultural Supply Company, Bauchi State Tourism Board, Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency and Bauchi State Hotels Board.
Others are Yankari Transport Corporation, Bauchi State Sports Council, Poverty Alleviation Agency, Bauchi Fertiliser Company, Bauchi Meat Factory and Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi.

Benue

A 29-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Kator Zapke,
yesterday appeared in a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court over alleged theft of a Bajaj motorcycle valued at N136,000.
Zapke, who lives opposite Baptist Secondary School, Achusa, Makurdi, is facing a three-count charge of criminal breach of trust, negligence and theft.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Omaye Ujata told the court that one Mr Jarius Ochong, the complainant, reported the incident at the “C’’ Division Police Headquarters in Makurdi.
Ujata said that Ochong entrusted his red, Bajaj motorcycle with registration number MKD 733 US to the accused who later claimed that it was stolen.
According to the prosecutor, the complainant sold the motorcycle on hire purchase to Zapke at a cost of N200,000 to be paid in 10 months.
She said that the agreement was for the accused to remit N5,000 to the complainant at the end of every week for 10 months to off set the cost.

FCT

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon
Arase, has directed IGP Teams on Monitoring of Police performance to immediately begin monitoring activities/conducts of personnel on highways, police stations and formations nationwide.
The directive, according to a statement by the force Spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, is aimed at enforcing of the police Anti-Corruption initiative recently launched by the I-G.
It will be recalled that at a recent meeting with senior officers, Arase expressed resolve to rid the force of corruption, and warned officers and men to desist from corrupt practices.
The statement urged the team to be mindful of the constitutional rights of the citizenry, while performing their statutory duties.
It also warned them against excessive use of force and unjustifiable application of lethal weapons contrary to standing rules of engagement.
According to the statement, the police will not hesitate to punish indicted officers.
It, however, commended the public for their understanding, cooperation and support for the force in the face of the current security challenges.

Gombe

A coalition of civil society has called on the Gombe
State Government to increase its budgetary allocation to the health sector.
The coalition, Maternal, New-Born and Child Health Coalition (MNCHC) and Media Platform, made the appeal in a statement issued on Wednesday after a budget analysis of the state’s health allocation between 2010 and 2014.
It urged for increased funding especially as it concerns polio immunization and nutrition activities in the state.
The coalition observed that the state government allocation to the health sector was inadequate compared to the growing population in the state, which is put at 3.2 per cent rate.
According to the statement, though there is budget on nutrition, such allocations are grossly inadequate.

Kebbi

The National Commission for Refugees has donated
26 houses to 136 Internally Displaced Persons in Kebbi.
According to sources, the refugees were displaced by the crisis in Borno and Yobe State.
The North West Zonal Coordinator of the commission Miss Alao Moridiyat presented the houses to the beneficiaries recenyly at Sabon Birnin Turaki village in Augie local government area of the state.
She called on them to settle down peacefully in their new environment and engage in communal activities.
The zonal coordinator said that the local government provided the land for the refugees while the commission spent N13 million to construct the houses.
Moridiyat said that the commission also donated N450, 000 to some households, as well as clothing materials, foodstuff and utensils to the victims.

The Kwara State House of Assembly in IIorin has passed
a bill seeking an amendment to a law guiding the opertions of cooperative societies in the state.
The bill seeks to among other things ensure greater accountability in the operations of cooperative societies and provide stiffer penalties for violations of the law.
The bill was passed after the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Commerce, Cooperatives, Industries and Women Affairs.
The Speaker, Mr. Razak Atunwa, directed the Clerk, Mr. Oyetunde Oyeniyi, to read the bill for third time and it was consequently passed.
Atunwa said the bill was passed because it had satisfied the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria and the Rules of the House.
He also mandated the Clerk to produce a clean copy of the bill for governor’s assent.

Oyo

The police have dragged 70-years-old Tijani Osuolale
before an Iyaganku Senior Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly failing to produce an accused he stood surety for at the police station.
Osuolale was arraigned on a one-count charge of failing to produce an accused.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Ojeleye told the court that Osuolale allegedly stood as surety for one Saidi Lafiku.
Lafiku was accused of obtaining N300,000 under false pretence, by a complainant who reported the matter at Iyaganku Police Station, Ibadan.

Plateau
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church
(RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has advised ministers of God to practise the sermons they preach at home because their children are watching.
Adeboye gave the advice in Jos at RCCG’s Ministers and Workers conference, which had the theme: “In Christ Alone.’’
“We must tidy up our acts as ministers of God. Be careful what you do in the presence of the children,’’ he admonished.
Adeboye said that the church would organise a meeting with children of ministers in the north, just as it had done in the south and some other parts of the World such as Europe and the U. S.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko, has
pledged to complete and inaugurate the N5.6 billion ongoing water expansion project in Sokoto before handing over on May 29.
Wamakko made the pledge when he inspected the water expansion projects at Gagi, Mana, More, Tamaje, old Airport and Rinjin Sambo areas, Sokoto.
The governor expressed satisfaction with the level of work at the water expansion projects in Sokoto township, costing the state government over N5.6 billion.
He disclosed that the projects would produce 40 million gallons of water daily and would be inaugurated before May 29.
Yobe

The Yobe State Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS com
menced HIV/AIDS screening for over 4,000 Nigerian returnees from Niger Republic, who fled at the wake of insurgency.
Executive Director of the agency, Hajiya Farida Mamudo, said in Giedam that the agency found it necessary to establish returnees HIV status to check the spread of the virus.
Sources said that over 6,000 Nigerians, mostly inhabitants of Lake Chad, have returned to the country to pave way for military operations against insurgency.

L-R: Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh and the first son of the Governor, Alhaji Idris Yuguda, during the 7th Day Prayers for repose of the soul of the governor’s mother Goggo Hauwa Yuguda, at Ramat House in Bauchi last Wednesday.

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.