Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

September 21, 2011

Adamawa

More than 70 per cent of the 226 councillors whose tenure expired two months ago are seeking re-election in the forthcoming local government election in Adamawa State.

The Chairman of the Councillors Forum, Alhaji Usman Maulud made this known in an interview in Yola.

Maulud said the councillors who had obtained nomination forms were seeking re-election on the platform of PDP.

He, however, said that five of the councillors including himself, who served as speakers of their respective local government legislatures, were going for the chairmanship position.

“We were encourage and supported by our people based on our performance and commitment to youth development in our areas to contest”, he said.

Bauchi

The Conditional Cash Transfer Programme of the Bauchi State Government for girl-child education, has gulped N50 million within the last five years.

The Chief Coordinator of the Programme, Alhaji Karijo Buba made this known on Tuesday in Giade.

The programme is being undertaken in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) .

Buba made the disclosure while distributing letters of invitation to participate in the programme to some selected girls in Darazo, Dambam, Giade, Kirfi, Zaki and Dass local government areas of the state. Buba said that the programme commenced in 2007 with 260 schools in the six local government areas as a pilot programme.

Benue

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State last Saturday pledged that his administration would not interfere with the independence of the judiciary.

The governor, who gave the pledge in Makurdi at a ceremony organised to mark the beginning of the 2011/2012 legal year, said that his administration would always strive to ensure a smooth dispensation of justice.

Suswam, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Chive Kaave, noted that the state’s judiciary was one of the best in the country.

In his address, the Chief Judge, Justice Iorhemen Hwande, commended Suswam for his support to the judiciary.

FCT

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has appealed to people of goodwill to eschew violence and follow the path of justice, peace, unity and stability for the progress of Nigeria.

In a message of condolence to the family of the slain Babakura Fugu, son of the deceased Fugu in Maiduguri, Obasanjo said that while out of the country, he received the sad news of the killing of Babakura.

In the message, last Sunday, Obasanjo said “Babakura who joined others to receive me in the demolished compound of his late father, was genuinely working for justice and peace.

“He should not be hated for that let alone being killed.

Jigawa

Malam Adamu Jigawa-sada, a physically challenged lawmaker representing Dutse Constituency in Jigawa State House of Assembly, has pledged to bring the dividends of democracy to his people.

Jigawa-sada, who made the pledge on Saturday in Dutse in an interview with newsmen said his election was an inspiration to all the physically challenged persons in Nigeria.

Jigawa-sada said that since his election two villages in his constituency that had been in total darkness for years had started enjoying steady power supply.

Kaduna

The Tiv community in Zaria, Kaduna State, has expressed happiness over the decision of the Zazzau Emirate to co-opt it into the annual Eid-El-Fitr celebration.

In a statement signed by the Tyoor-elect of the community in Zaria, Mr Denis Akaayar in Zaria last Saturday,the union said the gesture would enhance national unity.

It specifically described the 2011 Eid-El-Fitr celebration as a memorable event for the Tivs in Zaria in particular,and Kaduna State in general.

Kano

Dr Ahmad Suleiman, the Imam of Tudun Murtala Central Mosque in Kano, has enjoined Muslims to emulate Prophet Muhammad by exhibiting good character.

In his sermon, Suleiman said that during his life time Prophet Muhammad advised his followers to be God-fearing in all their undertakings.

He also stressed the need for the Muslim Ummah to shun hypocrisy in all its form.

The Islamic scholar also called on parents to give their children good education that would make them useful citizens of the country.

He implored Muslims to propagate the message of Islam and the teachings of the holy Prophet Muhammad.

Suleiman,who described life on earth as transient, enjoined Muslim faithful to always pray for peace in the state in particular and the country in general.

Lagos

Mr Abdul-Lateef Owoyemi, the former President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), says Nigerian leaders should show more commitment in efforts to tackle insecurity, corruption, poverty and joblessness in the country.

He gave the advice in Lagos last Saturday, while speaking at the 2nd Annual Seminar of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC.

Owoyemi said that Nigeria would remain relevant in the comity of nations, if its citizens were more disciplined and focused.

He, however, noted that some unscrupulous politicians had been creating fears and mutual suspicions among the citizenry, while making the country polarised and unstable.

“No nation can be relevant globally without first becoming relevant domestically.

“We are relevant in terms of world energy supply and when peacekeeping activities on the global stage are being discussed.

Niger

The All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, has advocated the establishment of more examination bodies in the country to improve the standard of secondary school leaving certificate examinations.

This was contained in a communiqué issued last Saturday at the end of the conference’s national executive council meeting in Minna.

The communique noted that the establishment of the National Examination Council (NECO) had compelled the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to improve on its standard in the bid to maintain its position.

It expressed concern over the moral decadence in the country, which it said was characterised by insincerity, corruption and sexual abuse among others.

Ondo

Mr Banji Okunomo, the Chairman of Ilaje local government in Ondo State, said the council had awarded contract for the dualisation of some roads in the area.

Okunomo told newsmen last Sunday that the contract was awarded to a construction firm, adding that the people of the community had also called for the repair of link roads in the area.

He declined to name the construction firm involved and the contract sum.

He said that the reconstruction of Igbokoda market into an international market was in the pipeline as well as provision of other essential developmental amenities.

He said council had resolved to implement programmes that would impact positively on the people, and improve on the work of the previous administration.

Plateau

The Federal Government has pledged to pay the medical bills of persons who sustained injuries during the crisis that rocked some parts of Plateau State.

Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), gave the undertaking in Jos last Saturday when he visited the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, where some of the injured victims were receiving treatment.

Sani-Sidi, who commiserated with the victims, said that the Federal Government had directed that the medical bills of the injured persons should be defrayed.

He also expressed the government’s willingness to support the victims and urged the hospital authorities to submit their bills to the zonal office of NEMA for necessary action.

Sokoto

Senator Abubakar Gada, says he will contest the March 10, 2012 governorship election in Sokoto State.

“I intend to contest the post and this is unequivocal, categorical and unambiguous,’’ he said last Saturday in Sokoto.

Gada said he would contest the election to enable him bring the needed change in the socio-economic development of the state.

He was reacting to a recent statement credited to the National Vice-Chairman of the PDP in charge of the North-West Zone, Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure, while on a working visit to the state.

Zamfara

Alhaji Murtala Aliyu, the Chairman of Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board, has directed education secretaries to remove all ghost teachers from their payrolls ahead of planned statewide audit.

Aliyu,who was appointed recently as SUBEB chairman, gave the directives during a meeting with the secretaries in Gusau at the weekend.

He said records had shown that there were scores of ghost teachers in the payrolls of all the 14 local education authorities and that salaries of such teachers were fraudulently paid into the pockets of some individuals.

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.