Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

February 21, 2011

Adamawa

No fewer than 23 Fadama User Groups in Adamawa need at least 35,300 fingerlings to boost their activities.

The Communication Officer of the State Fadama Office, Malam Dalhatu Girei, disclosed this to newsmen in Yola.

Girei said that three of the 20 groups had been supported with 6,000 fingerlings and other inputs.

He said that the office had finalised arrangements to assist the remaining 20 groups with fingerlings.

According to him, the 23 registered groups have been exposed to various enterprises in fishery related activities in the state.

Bauchi

Implementers of the National Fadama Programme in the country have been urged to re-enforce the use of communication to achieve its goals.

The Regional Head, National Food Reserve Agency (NAFRA), North-East Zone, Mr Daniel Kakwi, made the call in a paper presented in Bauchi at the National Communication Officers Review Meeting of the programme.

He stressed that the use of communication in achieving the objectives of the programme was necessary in view of the role of the media in mobilising the grassroots toward the success of the programme.

Kakwi commended the implementers for introducing community radio programme in their activities, saying that it would go a long way in enhancing the accomplishment of the objectives of fadama.

Ekiti

The new Chairman of the Ekiti State branch of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Julius Jegede, has warned members of the union against engaging in violence.

Jegede issued the warning in Ado-Ekiti last Wednesday during the inauguration of the new state executive of the union.

Jegede succeeds Chief Omolafe Aderiye, who resigned from office in November, last year, following a protracted intra-union crisis.

The chairman described members of the new executive as men of integrity, who should be seen as agents of peace and stability.

FCT

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Prof. Sheikh Abdallah, has canvassed for more funding to boost the agriculture sector.

Abdallah made the call while defending the ministry’s N63.5 billion budgetary proposal before the Senate Committee on Agriculture.

He said the Maputo Declaration had stated that 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product be devoted to the sector, adding that the country needed more than that amount to realise the Vision 2020:20 objectives.

Jigawa

The Jigawa government said last Thursday that a total of 891,149 children were immunised in the state against measles in January.

The State Immunisation Officer, Alhaji Hassan Kwalam, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.

Kwalam said that 900,000 children were vaccinated during the exercise out of the target of 1,150,016 children to be immunised against polio.

He noted that the rejection of immunisation had reduced drastically, saying that traditional rulers and religious leaders had been mobilising the people to accept vaccines for the good of their wards.

Kaduna

The National Population Commission (NPC) in Kaduna has urged people in the state to register births, deaths and still-births.

The state Director of the commission, Alhaji Ibrahim Riruwai, told newsmen in Kaduna that the registration would help in the planning and execution of projects.

“The registration would assist the government to prepare its plans in health, education and other sectors of the economy in the country,” he said.

Kano

The incidence of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) has reduced in the North-West Zone of Nigeria due to increased awareness, according to Dr Yalwa Usman, Coordinator for Reproductive Health of the Post-Abortion Care Network(PAC –NET),

Speaking with, newsmen Usman said that the rate of the infection had drastically reduced when compared to the early 80s and 90s, when it was high in the area, although she did not produce figures to back up her claim.

The states comprising the zone are Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa and Katsina.

“Remembering those years we spent at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano in the late 80s and the early 90s treating victims of the disease, I can say the situation has improved.

Katsina

Alhaji Sule Kuki, the Executive Chairman, Katsina State Universal Education Board, says a total of 8,000 primary school teachers are to benefit from the 2010 promotion exercise.

Kuki, who said this in an interview with newsmen in Katsina, explained that the processing of the 2010 promotion had been completed.

He added that the list of deserving primary school teachers to be promoted would be released next month.

According to him, the promotion arrears for the deserving teachers are being processed to ensure that they are paid on time.

Lagos

Stakeholders in the aviation industry in Lagos have urged airlines operating in the country to enforce the 100, 000 dollars insurance compensation for victims of air mishaps.

Speaking at a sensitisation seminar on aviation insurance for stakeholders, they noted that the compensation was stipulated in Chapter 111 of the schedule to Civil Aviation Act of 2006.

The stakeholders said the Montreal Convention of 1999, which specified a liability limit of 100,000 dollars, superseded the Warsaw Convention of 1929 which stipulated a compensation of 10, 000 dollars.

Ondo

The Ondo State Government has declared that its 2011 budget would focus more on completion of all on-going projects.

Addressing a news conference, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Akin Adaramola, said this was to consolidate on the gains already achieved by the state government.

He said the budget of N143.5 billion, made up of N58.190billion current and N85.190 billion capital expenditure, was packaged for the delivery of required services to the citizenry.

Oyo

A multimillion naira jatropha processing plant for producing bio-diesel is to be established by a private investor in Oyo State this year, according to The Tide’s source.

The State Chairman of Jatropha Productivity Stakeholders Association of Nigeria (JAPSAN), Mr Kayode Adebiyi, said this in Ibadan in an interview with the source.

He said the plant would be set up by Simrad Bio-energy Limited which was collaborating with jatropha farmers in the South -West region.

Plateau

The National Council for Women Society (NCWS) has advocated more roles for women in governance “because they were better managers of human and material resources’’.

The NCWS Chairperson in Plateau, Hajiya Ramatu Umar, made the call at the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally in Jos last Thursday.

She said “women deserve a greater role in governance. We are ready for change and we believe that it is only the Jonathan/Sambo ticket that will make that possible.’’

Sokoto

Alhaji Arzika Tureta, Director-General of Wamakko/Shagari Campaign Committeesays, the body has perfected measures to win all elective positions in the April elections.

He told newsmen in Sokoto that the electorate would vote massively for all PDP candidates, including Governor Aliyu Wamakko in April.

Tureta said Wamakko’s administration had succeeded in formulating policies and programmes that had been improving the lots of the governed.

Tureta, who is the state Commissioner for Education, said “we never had it so good until the coming of Wamakko because people-oriented policies were implemented in our state”.

Taraba

The Federal Government has signed the contract for the construction of Mambilla Dam in Sardauna Local Government of Taraba.

President Goodluck Jonathan announced this in Jalingo at the launch of the PDP presidential campaign in Taraba.

He said the signing of the contract was in line with his administration’s desire to solve the country’s problem of water and power.

Zamfara

The Zurmi Local Government Council in Zamfara has suspended three village heads for alleged involvement in partisan politics.

This was announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the council, Alhaji Aliyu Magaji in Zurmi on Thursday.

The statement named the village heads as Alhaji Isah Dankane of Dutsi, Alhaji Magaji Mande, Maizuma and Alhaji Hashimu, Gidan-kayya.

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.