Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

May 27, 2015

Bauchi State Governor-elect, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar of Apc and his wife react after he was announced winner of the governorship election in Bauchi recently

Bauchi

A Local Church Council (LCC) of the Evangelical Church
Winning All (ECWA), has held special prayers to seek God’s intervention for a smooth handover on May 29.
Our correspondent learnt that the prayers were held during the LCC two-day revival service which ended on Saturday at ECWA II, Bauchi.
The Local Overseer, Rev. Shuaibu Byal, told newsmen shortly after the prayers that consistent prayers were needed for God’s intervention to deepen Nigerian democracy.
Byal said that with the handover day less than a week away, there was need for Christians and Muslims to pray for smooth transition.
According to him, it is only God that will ensure a smooth transition from President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration to the incoming Government.

Borno

The Borno State government, has commended the Federal
Government for setting up an Inter-ministerial Assessment Committee for rehabilitation of structures damaged by Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.
The state’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mustapha Zanna, gave the commendation when he received members of the committee who were on a visit to Maiduguri.
Zanna said that the constitution of the committee was timely as it would provide avenue for the commencement of work in affected communities.
He added that, “the setting up of the committee is timely because our people are due to start going back to their communities following the liberation of their communities by soldiers.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, the Director of Search and Rescue of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had told the deputy governor that the visit was to assess damages done by the insurgents in the state.”

FCT

The Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP),
Mr Emeka Ezeh, has warned newly recruited procurement officers to follow due process in the award of contracts or risk going to jail.
Ezeh gave the warning in Abuja when he led the 130 procurements officers’ in-training on a tour of Kuje Medium Security Prisons.
Represented by Mr James Akanmu, Director, Research and Training, Ezeh said that being a procurement officer was a sensitive position.
He, therefore, urged the officers to refrain from corrupt practices and any act that could tarnish their reputation.
The BPP boss informed the officers of the provisions of sub-section 5 of Section 38 of the Public Procurement Act.
According to him, the act states that “any government official upon conviction of contravention of the Public Procurement Act will be sentenced to not less than five calendar years”.

Gombe

The National Association of Persons with Disabilities
(NAPW) last Monday, appealed to the Federal Government to organise a special skills acquisition training programme for its members across the country.
The Chairman of the Association in Gombe State, Alhaji Ali Goro, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Gombe State.
He said that such training would help its members and also assist the less-privileged amongst them, who relied on street-begging for their livelihood.
“We are appealing to the Federal and Gombe State Governments and some of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), to come out with special packages for our members.”

Jigawa

Electricity consumers in Hadejia, Jigawa State last Monday
decried the epileptic power supply in the area.
Our correspondent reports that Hadejia and its environs had been facing persistent outage in the last three weeks.
The poor power supply had affected businesses and made life unbearable, a situation a cross section of the residents who spoke to newsmen in Hadejia, described as worrisome.
A resident, Aminu Umar, said the persistent power outage has made life difficult due to the prevailing hot weather.
He said that the situation had forced many families to sleep outside, inspite of the ravaging mosquitoes and other pests.
Kano

The Federal Government has approved the establishment
of two specialised universities, President Goodluck Jonathan has said.
Speaking at the 31st convocation of the Bayero University, Kano, recently, Jonathan said the universities were the Marine University and the Federal University of Health Sciences.
Jonathan, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okoje, said the decision was borne out of the government’s desire to give more students with the requisite qualifications the opportunity to access quality education.
He said that in spite of the numerous challenges, the Federal Government would continue to support the education sector to empower the youth.

Kwara

The Senator -elect representing Kwara South Senatorial
District, Dr Rafiu Ibrahim, yesterday, assured victims of Owode market fire disaster in Offa of adequate succour.
He gave the assurance in Offa while speaking to newsmen after inspecting shops gutted by the inferno.
Ibrahim said he would contact relevant emergency management agencies to provide immediate assistance to the victims.
He pledged to seek the intervention of the Federal Government and the National Assembly, describing the fire incident as a monumental loss to the people and the state at large.

Niger

The Niger State Police Command has said that it deployed
7,000 personnel in Minna to ensure a hitch-free inauguration of the state Governor elect, Alhaji Sani Bello, on May 29.
This is contained in a statement in Minna by the Commissioner of Police Mr Olusola Amore .
“We have deployed no fewer than 7,000, personnel in strategic areas of the venue of the ceremony and Minna to ensure adequate security coverage of the event,’’ Amore said.
He enjoined the good people of the state to continue to be law abiding and to support the Police in protecting lives and property.
Amore commended the media for its balanced reportage before, during and after the 2015 general elections in the state.

Ondo

Pastor Richard Adesoji of Gospel Faith Mission International
in Okitipupa on Sunday, advised Nigerians to be fervent in prayers for a smooth and hitch-free transition to new government.
Adesoji gave the advice in an interview with newsmen shortly after he delivered a sermon on “The Journey to the Promised Land”.
He recalled that the biblical Israelites faced series of difficulties before getting to the Promised Land, but through prayers to God, they got to the Promised Land which God prepared for them.
Adesoji likened Nigerians to the biblical Israelites, saying that Nigerians would definitely get to the Promised Land “if they pray and seek God’s face“.
Sokoto

Youth Leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto
State, Malam Musa Isa, has pleaded with the party leaders to entrench internal democracy in the party to ensure its success in future elections.
He made the call in Sokoto while speaking with newsmen.
Isa identified lack of internal democracy and disrespect for the founding members of PDP as the major factors responsible for the failure of the party in the last general elections.
“The new comers to the party have no regard for the founding members of the party.”
“New members who defected to the party from various political parties were given more regards than the founding members that stayed and promoted the lofty ideals of the party,’’ he said.

Taraba

Former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilous Danjuma,
last Saturday inaugurated two bridges worth N500 million along Takum-Katsina Ala Federal Highway in Taraba.
The project is meant to curb the frequent accidents on the road as a result of the collapse of the bridges.
“The project started when I noticed the deplorable state of the bridges and realised that they had become death traps and a major cause of serious disabilities in the society over the years.
“We worked closely with the ministry and other relevant bodies and today, the challenges are over and I am glad this is over,” Danjuma said during the inauguration ceremony.
He observed that the road had not been given any serious attention since the end of the Nigerian Civil War.
He called on the Minister of Works to award the contract for the construction of the road to a competent civil engineering company.

Yobe

The Jamaatul Izalatul Bidiah Wa Ikhamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS)
an Islamic sect in Yobe State has advised parents against exposing their wards to wrong religious teachings.
Its Deputy Chairman, Malam Babagana Kyari, gave the advice in Damaturu at the closing ceremony of a Quranic recitation event.
“Our experiences in Yobe and Borno states have taught us to be vigilant of friends and associates of our wards, their schools, teachers and behaviours.
“This Quranic recitation competition has promoted true teachings of the holy Quran and unity among the Muslim community across the state,” Kyari said.
He urged all parents to scrutinise the type of schools and religious knowledge being imparted to their wards to avoid the type of insurgency plaguing the North East of Nigeria today.
In his speech, the Chairman of the State Council of Clerics, Sheik Haruna Gashua, commended security operatives for improving the security situation in the state.

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.