Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

March 14, 2016

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State (left), with the Minister for Information, Mr Lai Mohammed during the Minister’s visit to the Governor at the Government House in Jos, recently.

Benue

The Benue Commissioner of Police, Mr Paul Yakadi, on
Tuesday said that Fulani herdsmen had started leaving the state to end the ongoing crisis with farmers.
Yakadi told newsmen in Makurdi that the herdsmen decided to leave to give peace a chance.
“The herdsmen have started leaving the state for peace to reign. They are leaving in their numbers, but that does not mean the crisis has ended.
“We believe that in no distant time peace will return in the affected local governments and the people will return to their homes again.

FCT

The African and Arts Cultural and Heritage Association
Abuja (AACHA) has called on Nigerians to go back to their cultural roots of moonlight tales and games.
The President of the association Mr Kanayo Chukwumezie,made the call in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.
Chukwumezie said that there were different games that existed in the various cultural settings in the country which are at the verge of extinction.
“In those day, we use to play moonlight games of different types that involved singing and dancing and our parents would gather us to tell us stories that teach moral lesson.

Kwara

No fewer than 50 drivers had been convicted for viola
tion of road traffic regulations in the last two months in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said.
The Director of Operations, FRSC, Omu-Aran Unit Command, Mr Abdulhakeem Abdulkareem, told newsmen that the infractions were committed between January and February.
Abdukareem said that the convicts were among the offenders who appeared at mobile courts periodically setup by the corps in conjunction with the state judiciary.

Kano

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has
commended electricity customers in Bichi Local Government Area of the state for heeding its advice on energy conservation.
This is contained in a statement signed by the company’s Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Kandi, which was issued to newsmen in Kano .
According to the statement, the adoption of the energy conservation may not be unconnected with the series of campaigns carried out by officials of the company recently.

Katsina

The West African Cotton Company (WACOT) has drilled
bore holes for irrigation farmers in some Local Government Areas in Katsina state following shortage of water to boost dry season farming.
The company also distributed water pumping machines to the farmers in the state.
Dr Mustapaha Kabir-Daudawa, the company’s Project Representative, made this known at Bakori Local Government Area of the state at “Field Day’’ organised for farmers.
Kabir-Daudawa said the initiative was part of the company’s efforts to enhance farming activities, food security and job creation.

Kebbi

The Kebbi Chapter of National Union of Local Govern
ment Employees (NULGE), has appealed to the state government to pay up the three years arrears of leave grant owed workers.
The State Chairman of NULGE Alhaji Bello Barade, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Birnin-Kebbi.
He, however, commended the state government for regular payment of salaries of local government staff, but stressed that there was need for the leave grant arrears to be paid.
This, he said, was necessary to improve their performance and economic well being.
promoting their welfare, so long as they remained dedicated to their duties.

Lagos

A 28-year-old man, Joshua Tabit, has been arraigned
before the Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing four generators within 10 days.
Tabit of no fixed address, who is facing a three-count charge bordering on stealing, however, told the court on Tuesday that the charges against him were bogus.
“I am not guilty because the accusations are untrue,” Tabit said before Magistrate Bola Olagbegi-Adelabu.
The prosecutor , Cpl Mary Ajiteru, had told the court that the defendant committed the offences with others still at large on February 17 and February 26.
She said the defendant, on February 17, at about 3.00p.m. stole one Elpack 3,300 volts generator at No. 1-2 Prince Olajubu Close, Unity Estate, Bayeku Road, Ikorodu.
“He also stole a generator worth N75,000, the propery of Prince Oluwashina Olajubu,” she said.

Plateauu

The Commander of Operation Safe Haven, the security
taskforce Maj.-Gen. Tagbo Ude, charged with maintaining peace in Plateau, has confirmed the establishment of strike force units.
Ude, who made the disclosure in Gashish community, a flash point in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, said the units became necessary to improve response to calls in crises-prone communities.
“For as long as I will be here, the strike force base will remain; the idea is to reduce our reaction time to distress calls.
“If you recall, before I took over, so many villagers deserted their villages.
“But with the establishment of the strike force, most of the villagers have returned while schools have reopened with children moving to school normally,’’ he said.

Osun

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, has announced the cre
ation of 31 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), in addition to the existing 30 Local Government Areas in the state. Aregbesola, in a state-wide broadcast in Osogbo, also announced the creation of three Area Councils and Two Administrative offices. He said the new LCDAs were created based on the request of the people to expand the scope of local government administration and enhance their participation. “The requests for new councils have been granted; all constitutional requirements have been met and the prescribed procedure followed to the letter.
“The importance of the local government cannot be overstated. It is where the government is designed to be closest to the people,” he said.
Ondo

The Ondo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has ad
vised intending for the 2016 Hajj from the state to engage in physical exercises to attain fitness for successful Hajj rites.
The Chairman of the board, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Ajifowowe, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Akure.
“ Physical fitness is one of the prerequisites for a successful Hajj,” Ajifowowe said.
He said that the Hajj was a rigorous religious exercise that demanded perseverance.
“Those that want to perform this year’s Hajj should try as much as possible to engage in physical exercises.
“Because Hajj is a rigorous exercise during which you will trek a lot.
“So, whoever that is used to riding vehicles always, should start trekking now,so that when he eventually gets to Mecca, the trekking will not have negative effects on him.

Oyo

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ibadan
has Tuesday remanded in prison custody a 29-year-old man, Dare Idogbe, charged with stealing a motorcycle at the court’s gate.
Our correspondent reports that the Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. F. Richard, remanded Idogbe at the Agodi Prison to review the facts of the case and to pronounce sentence.
Idogbe, whose address was not provided in the charge sheet, had at his arraignment pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing preferred against him.
Subsequently, the magistrate adjourned the case for sentencing on Thursday.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Sunday Ogunremi, had told the court that Idogbe and one other person now at large conspired to steal a Bajaj motorcycle valued at N150,000.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Zakat and Endowment Committee has
doled out 78 sewing machines, 400 bags of millet and 30 grinding machines to the needy, to encourage self reliance.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal said while distributing the items that the gesture was part of government’s efforts to encourage entrepreneurship in rural communities.
The governor, represented by Alhaji Al-Mustapha Abdulkadir, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Religious Affairs, pledged that the administration would come up with more empowerment programmes to reduce the level of poverty in the state.
Tambuwal stressed that the overall aim was to make people enterprising, self-reliant and self sustaining.
He solicited for prayers for peace in the country and success of the present administration.

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.