Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

January 30, 2017

Adamawa
The Adamawa State Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) has denied sacking two magistrates.
The commission, in a statement by its Secretary, Susana Elam, made this known in Yola.
Elam said “It has come to the notice of the JSC that the judiciary sacked two magistrates and demoted one Area Court Judge.
“Nothing like that has happened. The true position is that only three lower court judges were demoted,” Elam said.

Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has advised corps members to embrace agriculture like farming, fishery and snail farming in the absence of white collar job, in order to reduce unemployment.
Fayose gave the advice at Ise- Orun, Emure -Ekiti, during the swearing-in ceremony of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Batch B, Stream 2 deployed to the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissoner for Sports and Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi said that the state was rich in farmland and urged them to make use of it during their service year.
He also urged them to embrace the prevailing remedial strategies put in place, like War Against Poverty (WAP), Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) and Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP), for self empowerment.

Gombe
Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Gombe State, Alhaji Mato Yakubu, has cautioned youth in the state to be wary of politicians planning to engage them to perpetrate violence during the forthcoming council polls in the state.
Yakubu said in Gombe that the word of caution was necessary as the February 25 date fixed for the polls drew closer.
“Youth are the most vulnerable in the society, constituting about 87 per cent of our population and politicians are targeting them for either positive or negative purpose.
“They should always be worthy members of their communities for better future, by not allowing any politician to use them as instrument of violence during the forthcoming elections,” he advised.

Jigawa
The Jigawa State Chamber of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture (JISSIMA), has expressed its readiness to introduce mobile banking in rural communities to enhance economic activities.
The JISSIMA’s Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Muhammad, who made the disclosure in Dutse said that the system would be introduced in all towns and villages across the state.
He said that the JICCIMA had already organised a one-day workshop on Financial Transaction for stakeholders, in collaboration with Bizi Mobile Communications, for proper take-off of the programme.
The chairman said that the gesture was to enable rural dwellers have access to banking services.

Kano
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Coordinator in Kano State, Alhaji Ladan Baba, has called for upgrade of the scheme’s orientation camp in the state.
The coordinator made the call in Kano during the swearing in of the 2016 Batch ‘B’, stream ll corps members posted to the state.
According to Baba, the camp, located in Kusalla in Karaye Local Government Area of the state, has carrying capacity of 10,000 corps members.
He called for support and encouragement from the public and the need for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the construction of additional hostels and skills acquisition centres for NYSC members.

Kebbi
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it will establish a Regional Academy for Immigration Management in Kebbi State.
The Controller-General of the service, Alhaji Muhammad Babandede, made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to Governor Atiku Bagudu in Birnin Kebbi.
He said the service had contacted members of the international community over the proposed centre and that they had indicated interest in the project.
The controller-general expressed hope that the project would be beneficial to Kebbi, especially as it would have airstrip and marine patrol for its closeness to the river.

Kogi
The Kogi State Government has set aside N5 billion to pay counterpart contributions to its international development partners and donor agencies on various intervention programmes in the state.
The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Kehinde Oloruntoba disclosed this in Lokoja at a dinner for stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.
The meeting was organised by Synergos Nigeria, under the aegis of State Partnership for Agriculture (SPA) in collaboration with the Bureau for Public Private Partnership (BPPP).
The Director-General of the BPPP, Mr Bob Achanya, commended the government for making the environment conducive for the partnerships to prosper, as it would add value to the socio-economic lives of the people.

Kwara
One hundred and thirty one (131) new employees under the Federal Government’s N-Power initiative have received orientation and counselling in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The orientation was organised by the Guidance and Counselling Unit, Quality Assurance Section of Irepodun Local Government Education Authority (LGEA).
The employees were those posted to public primary and Junior Secondary Universal Basic Education (UBE)-based schools within the council area.
The orientation and counselling programme, according to the Head of the LGEA Counselling Unit, Mr Peter Aransiola, was intended to acquaint the employees with basic rudiments of their duties.

Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has charged the newly sworn in Batch B, Stream 2 corp members posted to the state to actively engage in community development projects to better the lives of the people in their host communities.
Al-Makura gave the charge during the swearing in ceremony of the Batch B corp members at the Dan Yamusa Orientation camp in Keffi Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, who was represented by Nasarawa State Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Ishaq Galadima, said community development projects has more impact on the lives of the poor people, adding that it also helped to foster healthy relationships.

Niger
The Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced the deployment of its armed plain-clothed security personnel on foot patrols in areas notorious for cattle rustling in the state.
The State Commandant, Mr Philip Ayuba,made this known in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
Ayuba said the measure would help in arresting rustlers,kidnappers and other criminals.
He said that already officers concerned had been briefed on security methods to be adopted in apprehending the criminals.

Ogun
The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Saleh Dunoma has sued for the support of aviation stakeholders to enhance profitability in the sector.
Dunoma made the call at the 2nd Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
Dunoma said the industry was facing multiple challenges which needed the support of all and sundry.

Ondo
The National Palm Producers Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), has applauded the Federal Government for stopping import duty waivers on some locally cultivated agricultural products.
The President of the association, Chief Bolarinwa Adetula, gave the commendation in Akure during a courtesy visit to the Publicity Secretary of APC in Ondo State, Mr Abayomi Adesanya.
Adetula said that the gesture would encourage more investments, economic growth, job creation, food security and reduce the demand for foreign exchange.
He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to retain his policies on agriculture, especially the import restrictions in order to build sustainable agricultural base for the nation.

Osun
Justice Kudrat Akano of Osun State High Court, has in Osogbo sentenced a 38-year-old man, Ndubusi Okonkwo, to death by hanging, for armed robbery.
Okonkwo was tried on two-count of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The prosecutor, Mr Abiodun Alarape, told the court that Okonkwo was found in possession of dangerous weapons and a Mercedes Benz car on August 5, 2014 at about 10.30 p.m. at Isida Street, Ilesa.
Alarape, state counsel in the Ministry of Justice, said the vehicle had a registration number AAA 75 C and other particulars which the convict was unable to give account of.

Plateau
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has commended corps members’ efforts at executing rural community development projects over the years.
“Corps members posted to Plateau have always executed community developments in the rural areas; I want to say thank you for such efforts because my people have found them very beneficial,” Lalong said in Mangu.
Represented by Youth and Sports Commissioner, Mr Danladi Mang, at the official opening ceremony of the 2016 Batch “B” stream 2 orientation exercise, Lalong said that most of the projects were in the areas of education, infrastructure and healthcare delivery.

Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government says it will establish more agro-allied industries in 2017 to create more employment and boost internally generated revenue.
The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Bello Aminu disclosed this in Sokoto.
He spoke when officials of the ministry appeared before the State Assembly’s Committee on Commerce and Industry to defend the ministry’s budget proposals for 2017.
Similarly, the Director-General of Sokoto Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SOSMEDA), , Hajiya A’ishatu Hassan said that the state government would also establish an entrepreneurial training centre this year.

Zamfara
The Zamfara State Hajj Commission has inaugurated a five-man Pilgrims Registration Committee to monitor and supervise the ongoing registration of intending pilgrims for the 2017 exercise.
The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Abubakar Danko, who inaugurated the committee in Gusau, said that the committee would monitor and supervise the exercise and ensure hajj-free operations in 2017.
Danko directed the committee to ensure that indigent persons were not denied the opportunity of performing the hajj.
He said that in the past outsiders were allocated hajj seats from the state through official collaboration, warning that anyone caught in any shoddy deal would be dealt with.
The chairman added that the commission was currently doing its best to ensure the comfort of the state’s pilgrims to 2017 year hajj.
He warned officials of the commission to desist from collecting the deposit of intending pilgrim as the pilgrims were expected to pay their deposits personally at designated banks.

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.