Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

June 16, 2010

Adamawa

The ongoing strike by civil servants in Adamawa has paralysed activities at the courts, schools, hospitals and other public institutions in the Mubi Local Government Area for the second day.

The Tide’s source, reports that the civil servants embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday following a disagreement with the state government over wages and improved working conditions.

The source who visited key government offices and schools reports that armed security personnel had been deployed to protect the property there.

At the Mubi North Local Government Secretariat, the main entrance was closed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)officials who were going round to enforce compliance with the strike directive.

Bauchi

Dr Ignatius Kaigama, the Archbishop of Catholic Diocese of Jos, has enjoined priests to serve as models and lead people to Christ.

He made the call in Bauchi during the ordination of five priests at St. John’s Cathedral Church, Bauchi at the weekend.

The cleric told the newly ordained priests that they were called to be like Jesus Christ, hence the need to emulate him in all spheres of life.

The Archbishop also told them to preach the word of God to the poor and those hungry for the word of God.

Kaigama said they were expected to offer sacrifice to God and forgiveness of sins as well as offer bread and wine to Christ.

“You are also to reconcile people who have gone far away from God and bring peace of Christ to the injured families and ethnic groups.

“As priests of God, you are to offer forgiveness of sins on behalf of Jesus Christ, you should be a bridge through which people will pass to God,’’ he said.

Kaigama told them that for them to be able to perform their duties effectively, they must be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Ekiti

Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti State yesterday advised students to study courses which would make them to be self employed.

Oni, who gave the advice at an inaugural lecture at the Ekiti State University of Science and Technology, Ifaki-Ekiti, also admonished the students to shun cultism.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, the governor charged the students to be employers of labour rather than scramble for white collar jobs.

“The rate of unemployment in the country is a concern to all well-meaning Nigerians, especially those in leadership positions.

“Students should strive to go for courses that will make them self-reliant and employers of labour,” Oni said.

FCT

The NNPC and the PHCN yesterday in Abuja, signed a Gas Supply and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) for gas supply for improved power generation in Nigeria.

The pact is expected to deepen Federal Government’s commitment to rapidly reposition the domestic gas market for sustainability.

Egbin Generating Company Ltd. A subsidiary of the PHCN and NNPC/Pan Ocean Corporation Joint Venture, are joint executors of the gas-to-power agreement.

Speaking at the event, Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke said the agreement would underpin the supply of 65 million cubic feet of gas per day from Pan Ocean’s Ogharafe Gas Plant to Egbin.

She said the NNPC/SPDC JV and NNPC/Chevron JV would also supply gas to Egbin to boost generation.

Kaduna

The National Blood Transfusion Service NBTS) says it collected 2,989 units of blood from voluntary donors in the past one year.

Dr Abigail Bozegha, the North West Zonal Coo-rdinator of the centre, told newsmen on the occasion of this year’s World Blood Donor Day in Kaduna, that the blood was collected between June 2009 and June this year.

She said 2,516 units of the blood had been distributed to patients in various health institutions in the zone, adding that “the blood went through normal screening and test before being given out to needy people.’’

Bozegha added that the remaining units could not be released for various reasons.

The co-ordinator said the theme for this year’s world blood day campaign was “New Blood for the World’’.

She said blood pressure check, weighing and blood group test services wouldbe provided to walk-in donors free during the week-long event.

Kano

The Kano State Association of Community Pharmacists has urged the management of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to involve its members in the implementation of the programme.

The Chairman of the association, Dr Sadiq Inuwa, made the request in Kano at an interactive session involving NHIS officials, the operators and beneficiaries of the scheme.

“As qualified and registered pharmacists, we request that we be allowed to render our service to the scheme in order to contribute to its success,” Inuwa said.

He said the hospitals and clinics involved in the scheme should not be the only ones to implement it “because we too have a role to play as professionals”.

The chairman suggested that patients should be made to purchase the drugs prescribed for them by the clinics from pharmacists, especially where such hospitals did not have standard pharmacies.

He said the same gesture should be extended to the laboratories and X-ray centres outside the hospitals.

Inuwa explained that the measure would boost the patronage of pharmacies.

Katsina

In a bid to promote self reliance and encourage poultry farming, Kankara Local Government in Katsina State has distributed 1,000 chickens to less privileged persons.

Alhaji Ibrahim Kasko, the Council’s Supervisory Councillor of Education and Social Services Department, told on Saturday that the effort was part of its poverty alleviation programme.

Kasko explained that the beneficiaries, mostly women, were selected from the 11 political wards of the council, adding that each of them got four to five chickens.

He noted that 300 goats were also distributed to orphans and other vulnerable families to empower them economically.

The councillor commended Governor Ibrahim Shema and Kankara Local Government chairman, Alhaji Mamman Sani, for their policies aimed at uplifting peoples living condition.

He pointed out that construction and expansion of schools, roads, hospitals as well as provision of water and electricity across the state had proven their distinctive leadership styles.

Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday in Lagos said it arrested 2,883 suspected drug traffickers between January and May 2010.

A statement issued by Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, Head of Public Affairs of the NDLEA said that the suspects included 2,780 males and 103 females.

According to the statement, 77,796.12kg of narcotic drugs were seized from the suspects.

The statement said that cannabis, popularly called Indian hemp, formed the biggest chunk at 77,267.04 kg.

It said psychotropic substances accounted for 419.59 kg of the seizures, while cocaine and heroin of 82.281 kg and 27.21 kg respectfully, made up the balance.

The statement also disclosed that 674 offenders were convicted by the law courts within the period.

Ogun

The Ijebu-Ode Local Government Council in Ogun has engaged the services of town criers to educate the people on the dangers of dumping of refuse in the drainage system.

Mr Rotimi Ojuyiingbo, Chief Environmental Officer of the council, said that the measure was part of the council’s public enlightenment campaign against dumping of refuse in public drains.

Ojuyiingbo told newsmen in Ijebu-Ode in Ogun yesterday that the dumping of refuse in drains had caused flooding in the town.

He said that the campaign would take the town criers to all the markets and houses in the town on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of each week.

Oyo

An Ibadan Grade ‘C’ Customary Court yesterday dissolved the five-year-old marriage between Azeez Musibau and Kafilat Musibau on the grounds of jealousy and stubbornness.

Musibau, an Islamic cleric, told the court that his wife was stubborn and had not given him peace of mind to carry out his duties in the mosque.

He also said that Kafilat did not trust him and was always accusing him of having extra-marital affairs with women during Islamic meetings.

The man added that he never understood why his wife thought he was unfaithful, as he had done his best not to let her down.

He told the court that before he became an Islamic cleric, he lost the two children he had from Kafilat.

But Kafilat accused her husband of infidelity by bringing different women into their matrimonial home.

Plateau

The Plateau Government says it has concluded arrangements to “flood” Jos and Bukuru towns with taxi cabs following the ban on commercial motorcycle operation in the two towns.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Gregory Yenlong, disclosed the plan in Jos yesterday.

Yenlong said that the state government was only waiting for the statistics of the commercial motorcyclists, popularly, especially in Jos, as they would be the prime beneficiaries of the cabs.

The commissioner also said that government would assist interested civil servants and some of the former commercial motorcyclists with loans to enable them buy their own cabs.

He, however, said that government was not considering the option of tricycles for now.

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.