Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

May 6, 2010

Adamawa

As the rainy season sets in, the Adamawa State Government has commenced the training of rural farmers’ groups and extension officers on commercial farming.

Malam Usman Pallam, the Director, Planning, in the state Ministry of Agriculture, disclosed this to newsmen in Mubi, one of the five training centres in the state.

Pallam said the training was part of measures to transform agricultural practice in the state.

“The present administration initiated this programme to change the present system of agriculture in the state which is subsistence to commercial.

“We are trying to do that by building the capacity of our farmers by imparting knowledge and skills in farming.

Bauchi

The Senate President, David Mark, has said that the internal crisis rocking the PDP would be amicably resolved.

Mark who was speaking on Sunday in Gamawa, Bauchi State, while receiving Sen. Nazif Gamawa, who defected to the PDP, said the current crisis would make the party stronger.

He said that efforts were going on to resolve the crisis amicably, adding that all the contending parties had demonstrated their interest in the well-being of the party.

According to him, most of those who left the party at local government, state and national levels are making efforts to return.

The Senate President also solicited support for a second term for Governor Isa Yuguda to enable him complete his developmental programmes.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government plans to establish an international market for plantain/banana at Ilawe-Ekiti, in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Segun Oni, who made this known at Ilawe-Ekiti, said the project is aimed at boosting the revenue base of the area.

Oni spoke during the handing-over ceremony of a Toyota bus to St. Peter’s, Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, Ilawe-Ekiti, and a Toyota Corolla car to Mr.Dayo Olugbade, the youth leader of the community.

The vehicles were donated by a philanthropist, Mr. Sina Awelewa, who also awarded a N60,000 scholarship to Mr. Gbenga Arisoyin, a law student from the community.

FCT

Mrs Justina Okoror, Chairperson of the Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT), the female body of the Chartered Institute of Taxation in Nigeria (CITN), has said that women are mostly affected by tax policies.

Okoror said this at a press briefing in Abuja to announce the forthcoming inauguration of SWIT and the investiture ceremony of its chairperson and other members.

“In the Nigerian society, those affected mostly by tax policies are women who are mostly at the lowest point of the economic ladder,’’ Okoror said.

“Indeed tax governance in Nigeria must be made to be friendlier towards the female gender. It is therefore important that they must have voice and be heard on issues that affect them in this sector.’’

She said some of the taxes affecting rural women included multiple taxation and extortion, among others.

Kaduna

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has solicited the support of the Methodist Church of Nigeria in curbing preventable communicable diseases.

The Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr Mohammed Pate, made the call in Kaduna on Monday during an advocacy visit to the Methodist Bishops’ Council of Nigeria.

Pate urged the Church to complement government efforts in addressing health issues, including the prevention and treatment of diseases.

He specifically appealed to the Church to offer special prayers for the eradication of diseases in the country.

Kebbi

The Kebbi Government said it spent N587.1 million between 2007 and 2008 on the provision of electricity to 72 rural communities.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Muazu, and made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.

The statement said the government spent the money on power projects because “it is one sector that could not be ignored for economic development.”

“Completed rural electrification projects have since been energised and linked to the national grid and only a few are yet to be commissioned,” it said.

Kwara

Ten residential buildings obstructing water mains in Ilorin metropolis would be demolished, the Kwara State Commissioner for Works, Dr Abubakar Kannike, said on Monday.

Kannike, who is also the Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee set up to fast track the delivery of water infrastructure in the state capital, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.

He said the location of the buildings had hindered the speedy construction of the water mains.

He gave assurance that compensation would be paid to owners of property that might be affected by the ongoing construction work.

He, therefore, urged them to cooperate with the contractor as exercise was in the interest of all.

The commissioner advised property owners to adhere to the specified rules when building along the highways.

Lagos

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State said he is not interested in the 2011 Presidential race.

“Honestly before God Almighty I am not interested. I am too old for that kind of thing. It should be left for the next generation,’’ Lamido told newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport before his departure for Jigawa.

On the zoning of the presidency to the Northern part of the country by the ruling PDP, Lamido said that although the zoning of the presidency is in the party’s constitution, the nation’s constitution is superior to that of any party.

Nasarawa

A new book entitled “Leadership Issues” has been launched in Mararaba near Abuja.

Making the presentation on Monday, Pastor Dan Asukwo of Deeper Life Bible Church, called on Nigerians to imbibe the habit of reading intellectual publications to enhance their knowledge in various areas.

He lauded the ingenuity of the author, Pastor Charles Nelson, for his courage in writing the book, and urged the audience to purchase the book as he was “proud to present it to the public”.

The chairperson at the event, Mrs Constance Udeh, Head, Department of Languages, G.D.S.S. Karu, Abuja, stressed the importance of leadership.

Leadership, accrding to her, starts from home, in the church, places of work, in government, and all other organised places in the society.

Ondo

More than 25,000 PDP members in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Akure announced their defection to the ruling Labour Party (LP).

The defection comes barely one week after thousands of PDP, Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Action Congress (AC) supporters in Akoko SouthWest/NorthEast Federal constituency joined the party.

Addressing a news conference, the spokesman of the group, Mr Gbenga Edema, hinged their decision to quit PDP on activities of some “hawks who have hijacked the affairs and soul of the party”.

Osun

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun Council, has called on media owners in the country to embark on upward review of welfare package for journalists.

This was contained in a statement in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, signed by the assistant secretary of the council, Goke Butika and made available to newsmen in Osogbo.

The council advised media organisations to institute insurance scheme that would indemnify journalists against the hazards of the profession.

It further stated that nothing short of a good remuneration would further enhance the practice of journalism in the country.

Oyo

The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, has said that Oke-Ogun Community in Oyo State would give total support to Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala in the 2011 general elections.

Ojerinde, who is a native of the community, made the statement at Okaka in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of the state while speaking in an interview with newsmen.

“Our support is based on physical development of the area, because the governor has constructed roads which no other administrations has done in the history of Oyo State,” Ojerinde said.

The Registrar called on the National Assembly to quicken the process of amending the constitution for the creation of new states for the socio-economic development of the country.

Sokoto

Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Muktar Shagari has charged politicians to learn to deliver on their campaign promises.

Shagari, who gave the charge recently in Sokoto when the Peer Review team of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Secretariat visited him, said that was the only way they could secure re-election.

The team was in the state in continuation of its project inspection and peer review exercise, an initiative of the 36 governors and National Economic Council.

Zamfara

The Federal Government has urged states and local government councils in the country to intensify effort toward environmental conservation to safeguard lives.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Suleman Bello, made the call on Sunday in Dangaladima in the Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara, where the second wild polio-virus was reported in the country.

Bello said that the call had become necessary because “the greatest challenge of our time, is the issue of climate change that has direct bearing on human life.

“I therefore call on you to assist the government in the area of environmental conservation, by taking measures that would curb indiscriminate felling of trees, pollution and improve environmental sanitation,” Bello said.

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.