Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

March 7, 2012

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government says it will assist the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in the preservation of national artifacts within the state.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Sagir Sale, made the offer in Bauchi on Tuesday when he received a delegation from the NCMM, led by its Director-General, Malam Yusuf Usman.

Sale said, “The preservations of these monuments are key factors in the fight towards restoring national culture and values of the different peoples of the country.”

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to the upholding of the various sites within Bauchi, adding that the NCMM should include more of such locations into its heritage sites.

Earlier, Usman told the deputy governor about plans by the commission to highlight the life and times of the late Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, through an exhibition.

He said the exhibition would serve as a tribute to “this giant of a man, who chose to express himself quietly through outstanding leadership’’.

He said that the commission would promote the edifice, where Balewa buried, which is located in the heart of Bauchi town as a centre for dissemination of social values.

Ekiti

Alumni Association of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti has criticised the federal frequent change of the name of the institution.

Chairman, Board of Trustee of the Association, Mr Olawale Jegede said this in Ado-Ekiti at a dinner in honour of the new Vice Chancellor, Prof Oladipo Aina.

Jegede said the university, which will be 30 years old by 30th of this month had changed its name four times.

The university opened on March 30, 1982 as Obafemi Awolowo University, and was later named Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti. The institution was renamed University of Ado-Ekiti before it was name Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti late last year.

Jegede said, the name change is too rampant. Some of us have lost count of how many times the name has been changed.

He added “the Alumni were not consulted before the name was changed. As stakeholders, we would have been consulted. But we are ready to work with you. We are welcoming you now but we are going to celebrate you by the time we look back and se infrastructure development, the number of course accredited and other development”.

FCT

FCT Minister of State, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide, has charged stakeholders in the health sector to ensure that transmission of Tuberculosis (TB) would no longer be a health problem in Abuja.

She gave the charge at the launch of the FCT TB and Leprosy Control Programme, TB Reach Project in Gwagwalada Area Council.

According to the minister, the launch is aimed to kick-start the activities of TB control with the help of a new technology in the council.

She said the new technology, GeneXpert, was the latest technological instrument approved by the World Health Organisation for the diagnosis of TB.

Akinjide said that the TB Reach Project was a special grant, adding that it was secured through joint team spirit of Public-Private-Partnership efforts of the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat.

Kaduna

Some religious clerics from two major religions in Nigeria have advised government to seek God’s intervention through organised prayers to address the security menace in the country.

The clerics called for God’s intervention in Security challenges being experienced in Zaria and other parts of the country in an interview with newsmen on Sunday.

Sheik Surajo Bomo, a Zaria based Islamic scholar and Pastor Ishaku Halilu, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Zaria said that prayers still remained the only solution to any trouble.

They stressed the need for all Nigerians to join hands toward the actualisation of peace, unity and harmonious relationship among the citizenry.

Kwara

The Kwara Government says promotion of workers will henceforth be based on performance.

The Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Adelodun Ibrahim, told newsmen that the decision was aimed at ensuring a viable civil service.

“There is need for us to have a viable civil service and as such, evaluation and promotion of workers will be based on performance,’’ he said.

He said the results of the 2012 promotion examination held in January had been compiled, adding that the commission would soon fix a date for oral interview.

Lagos

An NGO, Project Alert, on Saturday in Lagos, attributed the increase in reported cases of rape to the advocacy work of activists and the government.

Executive Director, Project Alert, Mrs Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, however, told newsmen, that the increase in the reported cases of rape did not mean an increase in the incidence.

“We are having more reported cases of rape in Nigeria but this does not necessarily mean that there is an increase in the incidence.

Niger

A two-year-old girl was on Saturday beheaded by unknown ritualists in an uncompleted building in Tunga ward of Minna, Niger.

The victim, identified as Ummul-khairu Mohammad, was believed to have been beheaded in an uncompleted building adjacent to her house while playing with other children in the neighborhood at about 10 a.m.

“Before the unfortunate incident, I prepared the child for the day’s trip to an Adult Islamic School which both of us are attending.

“Subsequently, I realised that the little girl had poured water on her blouse and I was forced to arrange a new dress for her but she sneaked out to her usual playing ground, only for one of her play mates to come back home with her pant.”

Ogun

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun has congratulated former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his 75th birthday.

Amosun, in a statement by his senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Mrs Funmi Wakama, described the former president as “an epitome of selfless service to fatherland”.

The governor said “it is indisputable that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has devoted virtually his entire adult life to the service of the nation, first as a fine officer in the army, Head of State and later president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Osun

Two students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Azeez Owolabi, 25 and Olusegun Omoniyi, 27, on Tuesday appeared before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly being members of secret cults.

The police prosecutor, Sgt. Elisha Olusegun, alleged that the accused persons and others at large on or before February 20 at Ede conspired to commit felony by joining an unlawful society.

Olusegun, who alleged that the accused were members of the Buccaneer and Pirate Confraternities, said the offence was contrary to and punishable under section 516, 63 and 64 of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and their counsel, Mr Okobie Ajite, pleaded for bail on liberal terms.

Oyo

The Head of Special Operations, Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission, Mr Gad Nathan Bako, has said the war against graft and other related offences is weak in the country because of limited finances and logistics problems.

Bako said this while presenting two different papers titled “Corruption in Nigeria: The anti-corruption corrupt practices and other Related Offences Act 2000” at a sensitisation/enlightenment seminal for management and staff of the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology, Ibadan.

He stated that the war against corruption had improved the rating of the country by various international watchdogs.

He, however, said “the Agency’s activities were principally curtail by insufficient funding. He said the commission would have gone far if it had enough money to prosecute most of the cases before it.

Plateau

The 3 Armoured Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army and its affiliate units would conduct live firing at its shooting range in Miango, near Jos, between March 5 and March 14, a statement has said.

The statement, signed by Lt. Saleh Buba for the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, in Jos, said that there would be a large movement of troops and sounds of gun shots during the period.

“During this period, there will be large movement of military personnel and other military wares. There will be sounds of gun shots of different calibres of weapons.

“The general public and Fulani cattle rearers and farmers are requested to stay away from the general area within this period to avoid being hit by bullets.”

The statement, however, advised members of the public not to panic or entertain any fear over the development as it was purely a normal military training exercise.

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.