Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

July 19, 2010

Bauchi

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Bauchi State trained more than 35,000 people in different trades and skills, its Coordinator, Alhaji Shuaibu Mohammed, has said.

Mohammed who disclosed this in Bauchi last Friday during a ceremony to disburse resettlement equipment to graduates of vocational skills on loan, urged the beneficiaries to ensure good use of the equipment and the timely repayment of the loan.

The coordinator explained that this would enable others, especially youth, who were either idle or just roaming the streets, to benefit.

In his speech, the NDE Director-General, Malam Abubakar Mohammed, said the allowances of both trainer and trainees would be reviewed upwards as soon as funds were made available by the Federal Government.

Borno

Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, Shehu of Borno, said last Friday that awareness on compulsory insurance policy should be taken down to the local councils to enable people at the grassroots understand its importance.

Garbai stated this when the Board of Directors of the National Insurance Commission paid him a courtesy visit in Maiduguri.

“On the Issue that brought you to Maiduguri, my advice is that it requires wider publicity, the publicity should not be limited to Maiduguri alone or its environs. It has to go to various local governments and we have 27 local governments,’’ he said.

He added that a small committee should be formed to continue reminding the people on the need for the compulsory insurance policy, especially as it focused most on the third party.

FCT

The Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs, says youths, who will be trained on empowerment programmes in the Niger-Delta, will enroll in nine skill acquisition centres in June, 2011.

The Press Secretary, Mr Fidelis Osammor, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

The ministry had collected 13,000 applications from the youths to be trained to acquire skills in oil and gas, maritime and agriculture sectors.

He said the building of the skill acquisition centres in nine states of the Niger Delta, was ongoing and would be completed in June, 2011 as agreed between the ministry and the contractors.

Gombe

Governor Mohammad Goje of Gombe State on Friday directed council chairmen in the state to commence the implementation of free health care services for pregnant women and children under five years.

Issuing the directive at Lalaipido Town in Shongom local government area of Gombe State at the official launching of the Maternal and New-born Child Health Week (MNCHW), Goje said the implementation was with ‘immediate effect’.

The governor said that the state government started implementing the free-health services programme some years ago and that there was need for the councils to do same at the grassroots level to complement the efforts.

The governor also directed that all necessary arrangements should be made for the inauguration of the state’s taskforce on immunisation, headed by the Emir of Kaltungo, Alhaji Sale Muhammad.

Kaduna

The Nigeria-Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Authority (JDA) has executed 28 educational projects in Nigeria worth more than N560 million.

The Chairman of the organisation, Amb. Sa’idu Pindar, said this during the inauguration of a security fence and gate-house at Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Samaru, Zaria.

Pindar said the projects were spread across 28 states of the federation, adding that JDA would cover the 36 states.

In his words, “we want to cover the remaining eight states in Nigeria so that the entire country will benefit from our projects. Each of these projects has a minimum and maximum budget of between N15 and N25 million. This indicates that each of the projects averagely costs N20 million.

Katsina

The Katsina State Education Fund spent over N66 million in training 10,000 secondary school students who failed WAEC/NECO examinations in the last 12 years in the state.

The Director-General of the fund, Alhaji Umaru Ali, told newsmen in Katsina that the training was to enable the students to qualify for university admission.

He explained that the fund is an NGO focusing in training secondary school students who have deficiencies in their examinations to get a minimum of five credits through either of its two special training programmes, namely; Continued Education and JAMB Clinic.

According to Ali, over N48 million have been spent on its continuing education programmes since inception in 1999 and that more than 5,000 students have so far benefited from such training while many of them have gained entry into universities. .

Kebbi

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office has executed 6,504 community development projects nationwide in the past three years.

The Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on MDGs, Hajiya Saudatu Sani, made the disclosure on Friday, in Birnin Kebbi, at the inauguration of some MDGs projects. The 22 projects inaugurated by the Chairperson were facilitate by the MDGs Office and Alhaji Abdullahi Farouk, a House member representing Birnin kebbi, Bunza and Kalgo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Gov. Saidu Dakingari who spoke at the occasion urged other politicians to emulate the lawmaker in the provision of social services that would add value to the lives of the people.

He said he would support individuals and groups toward the actualisation of the MDGs programmes,”especially in the health, education and agriculture sectors”.

Lagos

John Utaka, a Nigerian International with Portsmouth in the English Premier League, has announced his intention to float a Foundation to empower indigent children and youths in the country.

Briefing journalists last Thursday in Lagos, the Portsmouth striker said that the decision for the ‘John Utaka Foundation’ was stimulated by the need to give something back to society.

”I believe that giving back to the society is very essential because I was in the system before I travelled abroad where I started playing my professional football.

Education is a human right and it should not be denied any child,” he said. Utaka said that the foundation would work in partnership with other organisations like Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to empower the youth through providing them scholarships.

He said that while the foundation’s focus would be providing formal education, nevertheless, it would also be empowering the youths through work placements and vocational training.

Ogun

The Ijebu-Ode local government of Ogun State on Friday, inaugurated an environmental task force to enforce the relevant laws in the area.The task force, comprising 90 youths, is to ensure sustainable clean environment and check environmental pollution in the area. In his inaugural speech, the chairman of the council, Mr. Mufutau Oseni, said the task force was constituted due to the increase in environmental pollution.

Oseni also noted that the unwholesome activities of some residents had destroyed the beauty of the area.

He said that members of the task force had been specially trained to cover all the nooks and crannies of the local government, adding that the operation of the force had legal backing.

The chairman urged the task force to discharge their duty without fear or favour and warned the people to desist from flouting sanitation laws as sanctions awaited offenders, no matter their status in society.

Earlier, the leader of the task force, Mr.Bolaji Odunusi, promised that they would discharge their duties diligently.Odunusi urged the members to eschew violence, acts of rudeness or disobedience to the constituted authority.

He also appealed to the community leaders to enlighten their people on the need to maintain peace and cordiality whenever the task force visited their areas.

Sokoto

Alhaji Mohammad Abubakar, Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, says the command is working in conjunction with the Sultanate to check the menace of hooligans in the state.

Abubakar told newsmen in Sokoto on Saturday, that the command would continue to partner with the traditional institution towards the improvement of security and cordial relationship among the people.

He acknowledged the immense support of the sultanate in the efforts at checking nefarious activities and improving the sense of security among the populace.

Abubakar said that a comprehensive list of area boys had been submitted to the sultanate council to ensure their proper rehabilitation and reintegration into the society.

Jigawa

The Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board (JSPWB), Alhaji Suleiman Usman, says the state government has approved the fares for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Usman told newsmen last Friday in Dutse, that the fares would be as announced by the National Hajj Commission.

He said that each intending pilgrim would pay 750 dollars (about N482, 679.33) for economy class; second class passengers would pay 1,000 dollars ( N516.766.83) while first class passengers would pay 1,500 dollars ( N591, 769.43).

Usman urged all intending pilgrims in the state to contact officials of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board in their respective local government areas and zones for necessary arrangement.

He said that the board had also made necessary arrangements for Islamic clerics who would give lectures on how pilgrims were expected to conduct their spiritual and moral obligations while in Saudi Arabia.

Nation

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

Published

3 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.