Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

May 31, 2010

Adamawa

An Adamawa High Court presided over by Justice Bamare Bansi, has ordered the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) to pay Adamawa revenue board N73.71 million as tax.

The sum was tax that accrued to Savanah Sugar Company, Numan, in Adamawa between 2002 and 2008 when BPE bought over the company and later resold it to Dangote Group of Companies.

Under the agreement, BPE was to inherit all liabilities of the sugar company and offset same before re-selling it to Dangote.

Records made available to newsmen at the Sugar Estate in Numan, revealed that BPE failed to offset the liabilities when it sold the company to Dangote in 2008.

Benue

The Benue State House of Assembly has passed 25 out of 36 bills it received in two years, the Speaker, Mr Terseer Tsumba, has said.

Tsumba made this known while addressing newsmen in Makurdi on Wednesday at the ongoing accountability briefing to mark the three years administration of Gov. Gabriel Suswam.

Out of the 36 bills, 35 were sponsored by the executive and one was sponsored by a lawmaker.

According to him, the sixth assembly which commenced business on June 4, 2007 had within the period lost two members of staff.

Bauchi

A political group, IBB Democratic Coalition (IDC), has called on Gen. Ibrahim Babangida not to relent on his determination to contest the 2011 presidential election.

The group, rising from its maiden meeting in Bauchi on Friday, therefore, called on Babangida to quickly tour the 36 states of the federation.

A communique signed by the coordinator of the group, Alhaji Bello Arabi and Malam Ibrahim Bello, Secretary, said that this would enable Babangida to unfold his agenda for Nigerians.

The group also said that it was committed to the sustenance of democratic rule.

Ekiti

The Ekiti Government has donated 200 teak and melina seedlings to Irele-Ekiti Community in Ikole Local Government Area of the state to boost its tree planting campaign.

The campaign was organised by an NGO, the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Church of Ekiti Diocese.

Making the donation in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Forestry, Prince Olatunde Olatunji, said the gesture was “in line with the state government’s policy of encouraging communities engaging in tree planting exercises for economic and environmental purposes”.

Gombe

No fewer than 646,700 expectant women and children below age five are to get free longer lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets from the Gombe Malaria Control Booster Project (MCBP).

Dr Abel Arnold, the MCBP Project Manager, said in Gombe on Tuesday that more than one million of such nets would be given out during the forthcoming Nets Distribution Exercise scheduled for June 16 to June 19.

Arnold said at a one-day workshop organised for journalists in Gombe on the role expected of them in the fight against malaria that the use of the nets was one of the ways of preventing malaria, especially among pregnant women and children.

He expressed regret that due to ignorance on the part of most people, especially the grassroots, the nets had not been put to proper use “even when they are being provided free of charge.

Jigawa

The pioneer chairman of the PDP,Chief Solomon Lar, has expressed happiness on the return of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the party.

Lar stated this on Friday in Dutse during the inauguration ceremony of nine housing units built by the Jigawa Government.

The houses were dedicated and named after the then G9 which metamorphosed to G18 and later to the 34 who formed the PDP.

Lar said that Atiku never left PDP, adding that it was PDP that left him.

“I am happy to see Atiku here; he is back to his home, PDP, of which he is one of the founding members and he will remain permanently with PDP’’ Lar noted.

Kaduna

Gov Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State said on Friday that the government would establish three fertiliser blending plants in its three Senatorial districts.

Yakowa said this during the launch of fertiliser sales for the farming season at Awai Village in Soba Local Government Area of the state.

He said that when established, the blending plants would enhance the availability of the commodity at all times and at cheaper rates.

“This is a clear indication of the administration’s drive toward the development of the agricultural sector of the state.

Katsina

Some towns in Katsina State have been facing acute water shortage since the past two months, although the state government has purchased three drilling rigs.

Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the capital, Katsina and other towns, including Daura, Malumfashi, Mani, Kankia and Dutsin-ma were worse hit by the problem.

The situation has resulted in borehole owners and water vendors making brisk businesses in major towns in the state.

In the Katsina metropolis, water vendors who purchase the commodity at N100 per truck of 10 jerry cans now sell at N30 per jerry can.

Kogi

The Kogi State House of Assembly on Wednesday called on the state government to constitute a high-powered disarmament committee to mop-up weapons in the hands of warring youths.

The House made the call at a plenary following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, representing Okene I constituency, in view of violent clashes involving youths across the state.

Bello said that the phenomenon had constituted serious security threat and outright breakdown of law and order “on virtually every nook and cranny of the state for the past four years.”

Kebbi

The Emir of Yauri in Kebbi State, Prof. Muhammad Zayyanu, has called on Gov. Saidu Dakingari to provide social amenities for the people of his emirate.

Zayyanu, who led a delegation of title holders and top functionaries from the emirate on a visit to Dakingari on Friday in Birnin Kebbi, said the emirate lacked good roads and a water supply scheme.

He called for the rehabilitation of the only dam in the area, considering the relevance of water to human beings and animals, adding that such amenities would facilitate rapid development.

The emir expressed regret that in spite of the presence of River Niger in the area, potable water had not been adequately provided for the people.

Dakingari assured the emirate that some amenities would be provided, stressing that he would personally monitor and ensure that bureaucratic matters did not prevent the area from getting the facilities.

Kwara

The Kwara Government has again assured the people of the state of its determination to provide sustainable and affordable houses.

The state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Adebayo Ishola, renewed the pledge on Friday in Ilorin.

Ishola spoke at a meeting in his office with Chief Bode Afolayan, the chairman of the firm handling the construction of the estates in the state, and the General Manager of the state housing corporation Architect Salihu Sulieman.

Ishola said that the administration of Governor Bukola Saraki was committed to effective delivery of sustainable and affordable housing scheme in the state.

Lagos

The New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to fully implement the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee.

The party also called for the reconstitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the appointment of credible persons into the commission.

The NNPP, in a message to commemorate “Democracy Day” said: “ The voice of the people on electoral reforms must be respected if the nation’s democracy is to survive.”

Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the party’s National Chairman, signed the statement and made available to newsmen in Lagos.

Ondo

The Ondo State House of Assembly in Akure on Wednesday advised the state government to employ 200 guards to check encroachment in government forest reserves.

The Assembly upheld the recommendation of the House Committee on Agriculture, which had been mandated to come up with solutions into the problem of encroachment in forest reserves.

Oyo

Mrs Omotolani Ogundipe, National President, Prisons Officers Wives Association (PROWA), on Friday attributed the difficulty in sourcing funds for its projects to stigmatisation of ex-convicts.

Ogundipe said this while speaking to newsmen in Ibadan on the sidelines of the inauguration of Oyo State chapter of Prisons Inspectors Wives Association (PIWA).

She said members of the association found it difficult to solicit for funds from philanthropists because the stigma attached to ex-convicts was extended to prison officers and their wives.

Osun

Gov. Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun on Saturday urged the opposition to cooperate with his administration to move the state forward.

Oyinlola made the plea while addressing the people of the state in a broadcast to mark the seventh anniversary of his administration in Osogbo.

The Osun Governorship Retrial Tribunal on Friday declared Oyinlola of PDP the validly elected governor of the state in the 2007 poll.

The declaration was based on a petition filed by

Mr Rauf Aregbesola, the AC candidate in the election.

The governor expressed his readiness to work with the opposition if it was prepared to contribute to the development of the state.

He urged all political parties to close ranks to achieve a common goal of developing the state.

Plateau

Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau said his administration would not leave any project uncompleted at the end of its tenure in May, next year.

Jang made the promise in his Democracy Day message to the people in Jos on Saturday, saying: “The era of abandoned projects has come to an end in Plateau.

“Let me assure the people that our administration will complete every project that we started all over the state before the end of my first tenure.

“Some projects were not commissioned this month because Democracy Day is low-keyed but they will be commissioned in October as part of the activities marking Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee.’’

Jang commended Nigerians for imbibing the culture of democracy, which had led to 11 years of uninterrupted civil governance in spite of enormous challenges.

Nation

HYPREP Marks 15 Years Of UNEP Report, Highlights Major Cleanup Milestones

Published

4 days 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.