Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

August 3, 2011

Adamawa

The Adamawa State Forestry Department has raised and sold about 5,000 tree seedlings to communities in the area in the last three months.

Mr Zakari Philip, the Zonal Forestry Officer in charge of the Mubi North Local Government Council, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Mubi on Monday.

Philip said that the seedlings included Eucalyptus, Albezia-lebbeck, Khaya Senegalesis,Azadirachita indica, cashew, guava, mango and tectons grandis.

He added that the tree seedlings project was being run in collaboration with the Federal Government.

“We are targeting about 200,000 tree seedlings under the supervision of a Federal Government’s forestry expert.’’

The officer said that the Forestry Department had embarked on a sensitisation campaign to educate the communities about the dangers of tree felling and the need to plant more trees.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State Police Command yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, paraded three suspects for their alleged involvement in the killing of Police Constable Olufowobi Olusegun during a robbery incident.

The trio allegedly killed the police officer during a robbery operation on July 20, at about 9 p.m. at the residence of the deceased at Moferere in Ado-Ekiti.

The suspects, one of them a medical student aged 24, allegedly committed the murder along with with two other suspects; aged 27 and 24.

A 22-year- old pre-degree female student, suspected to be a girl friend of one them had been detained for allegedly running errands for the suspects.

One the suspects is presently in coma at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile Ife, for gunshot injuries received during the robbery.

Jos

People who engage in self-medication are at the risk of delayed diagnosis and treatment when they take ill, a pharmacist has noted.

Rotkang Dimka told newsmen in Jos that such people risk prolong and ailments like cancer and diabetes which, when diagnosed early, could be treated or managed.

Self-medication is the act of obtaining and consuming drugs without diagnosis or prescription from a doctor.

“Once some people have symptoms similar to ailments they experience in the past, they just make references to previous prescriptions without going to health centres or hospitals for proper diagnosis”.

“Most of them feel they already know the treatment that will be given to them at the hospital and just go ahead to treat themselves without recommendations by qualified medical personnel.

Kano

The Kano Government is to reward the best local government in environmental cleanliness.

Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the Deputy Governor, who disclosed this at a meeting with stakeholders in the environment sector, said this was necessary to improve the state of sanitation in the state.

He said that a trophy, to be competed for by all the eight local government areas, would be dedicated as the reward.

Ganduje said the initiative was informed by the state government’s commitment to effective observance of environmental sanitation by the people of the state.

He said that the state government had reintroduced the monthly environmental sanitation beginning from the end of last month.

He said that the government would ensure the success of the exercise in the state capital and in all the 44 local government areas of the state.

Kebbi

Sheikh Ismaila Gotomo, an Islamic scholar in Kebbi, was advised Muslims to embrace Islamic banking as approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Gotomo gave the advice in Birnin Kebbi while addressing the annual Pre-Ramadan lecture, organised by the state branch of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN).

He said that the non-profit banking system would provide expanded economic activities for investors and improve the nation’s economy, devoid of ethnic or religious differences.

Gotomo said that Islamic banking had been in operation for many years in some western countries, and that such countries had not been Islamised.

Kwara

The Kwara Government has called on the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) to join hands with it to ensure the success of the recently introduced Bridge Empowerment Scheme designed to reduce unemployment.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Sola Gold, made the call on Monday, in Ilorin, while receiving the executive and members of the state chapter of the council.

The scheme was geared toward creating employment opportunities for youths, he said, urging the NYCN to educate its members to embrace the scheme.

On the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Rivers, the SSG commended the council for its support and assistance to Team Kwara.

Nasarawa

TALLAFI Foundation, a pet project of the wife of the Nasarawa State Governor, Hajia Mairo Almakura, has donated food items to Quranic school pupils to curb street begging among them.

Hajia Almakura, who donated the food items to four of such schools in Nasarawa and Keffi local government areas, said the gesture was aimed at ameliorating the plight of the Almajiris to keep them off the street.

“What I am doing today is to see how to keep these children off the street by providing them with food since I learnt from their teachers that they basically go out to beg for food”.

I also want to see how we can come in to incorporate formal western education into the system,” she said.

Niger

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has said that governors are committed to paying the new minimum wage after the grey areas must have been be clarified.

Aliyu stated this while interacting with journalists shortly after attending a Speech and Prize giving Day ceremony at the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, Kaduna State.

“Nobody can run away from the payment of the minimum wage; all of us agreed to find ways to pay; I think we are now working on the ways”.

“These ways include resources and logistics. You must work out details on the payment. Again, you have to work out logistics”.

Ondo

An Okitipupa Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to Ebenezer Oke, 20, and Sunday Oyetakin , 23, both accused of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen property.

The Prosecutor, Mr. Zechariah Orogbemi, alleged that the accused who were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each, committed the offences on July 8, at about 7:40 am in Igbokoda in Ondo state.

Orogbemi alleged that Oke stole N150,000 kept in a bag belonging to Mrs Abeni Ekudehinwa of Ajere Mobile Junction in Igbokoda.

“After stealing the money, at about 1:pm, Oke gave N10, 000 out of the stolen property to Sunday,” he alleged.

Osogbo

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has sponsored no fewer than 1,000 officers and men of the corps to various colleges for arms training.

Dr Ade Abolurin, the Commandant – General of the organisation, disclosed this yesterday at a workshop organised for the local government officials in Osogbo.

Abolurin urged all Nigerians to consider security issue as a collective responsibility and contribute their quota to the task of making the country safe, stressing that security agencies could not do it all alone.

“Every intelligence gathering revolves around the information supplied by the people. It is the information that the security personnel act upon for crime prevention.”

Sokoto

The Federal Government has reimbursed Sokoto State Government to the tune of about N1.27 billion for the construction of a 74-kilometre Sokoto –Illela federal road.

Alhaji Bashir Kankiya, the Federal Controller of Works in the state, announced this in an interview in Sokoto.

“Actually, the road is about 84 kilometres but the defunct PTF had rehabilitated 10 kilometres out of it while the state government awarded the contract for the construction of the remaining part of the road; the cost of the contract awarded was about N1.995 billion.’’

According to Kankiya , the contractor has completed 74 per cent of the road, amounting to about N1.5 billion .

Taraba

The Nigerian Red Cross in Taraba, has distributed relief materials worth thousands of Naira to victims of Kona and Mumuye ethnic clashes.

The clashes which occurred near Jalingo on July 10, claimed about 10 lives.

The relief materials included blankets, pots, mattresses and food items, which were distributed to Kaudad, Minda, Sambe, Jauro Shawo, Jauro and Awai villages.

Presenting the materials to the victims on Tuesday in Jalingo, the State Chairman of the Red Cross, Alhaji Hassan Abubakar, condemned the incident and prayed that such should never happen again.

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.