Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

May 11, 2016

Governor Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi State (left), presenting relief materials to Chairman, Bauchi Local Government Area, Alhaji Ado Aska, during the commencement of distribution of Federal Government’s relief materials to Idps in Bauchi State on Monday

Bauchi

Some women in the Internally Displaced Persons
(IPDs) camp in Gudun Fulani community in Bauchi State, have pleaded with the state government to provide them with farmlands as the rainy reason sets in.
They made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.
Hajiya Fatima Alhaji alleged that the state government had not been assisting them with food and shelter hence they need land to cultivate to feed themselves.
According to her, food and shelter are major challenges confronting the IDPs.
“We are pleading with the Bauchi State Government to please provide us with farmlands to enable us reduce the economic burden we are facing us in trades”.

Borno

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said
it would auction 44 jerrycans containing1320 litres of petrol seized from black market operators in Bornu State.
The Zonal Controller of DPR, Malam Ali Zoaka, who disclosed this, said that the seized items were handed over by officials of Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Maiduguri.
Zoaka said that the items were seized at various filling stations in the state capital by men of the NSCDC.
“We have decided to auction the commodities to members of the public, while the money would be remitted to the Federal Government account.

FCT

The Advocacy for Economic Integrity, an NGO, has
called on the Federal Government to create markets for farmers by giving them contract for the supply of farm produce to schools and other public institutions.
The Director-General of the NGO, Mr Abdullahi Aremu, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
Aremu said the creation of such markets for farm produce would help farmers, particularly the young entrepreneurs, to invest more and grow their agric businesses.
According to him, it will also help in increasing demand and supply chain for the nation’s farm products.
The director-general said government should ensure that farmers transported their goods from the hinterlands to city markets without much hussles.

Kaduna

The United States Agency for International Develop
ment (USAID), has reiterated its commitment to the reduction of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria.
Dr Blair King, Director, Peace and Democratic Governance Office, made this known in Kaduna at the opening of a two-day Consensus Workshop on the Sokoto State Strategic Health Development Plan, 2016-2020.
He said, “USAID is highly concerned with the high rates of maternal and child mortality and it would offer the necessary interventions to reduce the disturbing figures.
“The agency is also fully committed to improving other health indices, as well as taming HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases.”
Kano

The Federal Government said it would partner with
Kano State Government to empower women in agribusiness in the state.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, disclosed this during a visit to the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly.
The minister, represented by her Special Assistant, Alhaji Abubakar Umar, said the federal government would also provide the institutional framework to promote the well-being of women, children, and persons living with disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
.Kwara

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State says
his administration’s strategies in reducing the cost of governance and renewed revenue generation mechanism will ensure prompt payment of salaries and pensions.
Ahmed, represented by the state’s Head of Service, Hajia Zara Umar, said this at this year’s Workers’ Day celebration held at the Metropolitan Square, Ilorin.
The governor noted that the state’s Internal Revenue Service, KWIRS, had been empowered to shore up the state’s internally generated revenue.
He added that this would enable the state government to meet up with its statutory commitments and promote infrastructural development.

Lagos

The Lagos State University (LASU) has suspended four
students for cult-related activities and improper conducts.
This is contained in the university’s official bulletin obtained by our correspondent in Lagos.
The bulletin quoted the institution as saying that conducts of the suspended students could cause breach peace on the campus.
The bulletin said the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, took the decision on behalf of the university authority.
It said the decision to suspend the students was taken by Vice-chancellor, who invoked section 28 of the law establishing LASU.

Nasarawa

The Rural Finance Institution Building Programme
(RUFIN) has urged women in Nasarawa State to form cooperative societies, in order to access loans to boost their businesses.
The state Desk Officer, Hajiya Rifkatu Jatau, gave the advice in a message to a one-day workshop for rural women held at Igbado in Doma local government area of the state.
Jatau said the workshop was to sensitise the rural poor on the need to pool their resources through cooperative societies in order to benefit from government and other institutional support.
Niger

A 50-year-old man, Adebayo Attahiru, has been ar
rested by the Police in Niger for allegedly raping a three-year-old baby.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Bala Elkana, Police made this known to newsmen in Minna, recently.
Elkana said that the incident occurred on Friday.
The spokesman said the accused resides around Mobil area of Minna, the state capital.
Ogun

A 35-year-old driver, Yinka Durojaye, has been ar
raigned for alleged manslaughter and reckless driving.
Durojaye, who lives at No. 17 Odeyemi St., Iyana-Ilogbo, Ota, is facing a two-count charge of manslaughter and reckless driving before an Ota Magistrates’ Court.
The prosecutor, Abdulkareem Mustapha, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 2 at 4:00 p.m. at Fowobi Area, Ota.
Mustapha alleged that the accused, dangerously drove a Volvo Tipper Lorry with registration number AAB 641 X, which resulted in the death of one 22-year old Izuchukwu Chinedu.
He said that the offence contravened Sections 6 (1) and 18 of the Federal Highway Act. Cap 135 of the Revised Laws of the Federation, 2006.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Plateau

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State says the
bilateral agreement signed between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chinese Government is beginning to yield positive results in the state.
Lalong made the observation in Jos when he received some Chinese investors who were in the state to explore the investment opportunities that abound.
“When the President opened the door, North Central Nigeria and China held a business summit in Guangzhou from April 18 to April 22.
“It is as a result of the agreement that a business delegation from Yuzhou Group and the Hunan Xianghui Development Group are in Jos today,” he said.

Sokoto

The Cement Company of Northern Nigeria
(CCNN), has donated assorted drugs worth over N5 million to five clinics in Wamakko local government in Sokoto State.
Our correspondent reports that the drugs include: antibiotics and antigenes for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.
The Managing Director of the firm, Mr Aminu Ibrahim, represented by the Director, Human Resources, Alhaji Yawalle Isa said, “the gesture is part of the company’s social responsibility to enable our neighboring communities benefit from its industrial development.

Nation

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

Published

5 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.