Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

November 16, 2012

Bauchi

The Bauchi Commissioner for Information, Mr Mohammed Damina, has said that the government plans to spend N300 million to digitalise two state-own media organisations. Damina made this known in an interview in Bauchi on Monday.

He said that a team from the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had earlier visited the stations and gave professional recommendations on their digitalisation.

“Submissions were made to Gov. Isa Yuguda on the two stations – Bauchi State Television (BATV) and Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC). “Right now we are waiting for his approval as soon as funds are made available to the ministry, we will embark on the project,’’ he said.

Benue

The police in Benue have arraigned two men, Thaddeaus Enemani, and Abubakar Adamu before a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court for alleged house breaking and theft. Police prosecutor Daniel Swende told the court that one Timothy Anima, residing behind Modern Market Makurdi, reported the case to the police.

He said the complainant woke up on Nov. 9 to discover that his motorcycle valued at N84,000, which he parked at his residence was missing.

Swende said that during investigation, Enemani of the same address and Adamu of No 39 Udeni Street, North Bank, Makurdi, were arrested and the motorcycle was recovered.

He said Enemani confessed to committing the crime with Adamu, but the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecution said investigation into the matter was still in progress and asked the court for another date for the case to be mentioned. He said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 97(2), 353 and 288 of the Penal Code. .

FCT

The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama, says government is ready to present a uniform chart of accounts and budget to the three tiers of government for deliberation.

Declaring open a three-day workshop on the roadmap for the implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), he said that during the workshop, a draft of the National Standardised Uniform Chart of Accounts, Budget and the General Purpose Financial Statements would be exposed to participants.

Ngama said that the uniform chart would assist in Peer Review Mechanism among the three tiers of government and bring about integrity in the public sector financial reports.

Gombe

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, said his administration had approved the restructuring of the state’s board of revenue to enhance its activities.

Speaking at the North-East Sensitisation Programme on the Tax-payer Identification Number (TIN) in Gombe, the governor said that the state was poised to increase its revenue generation capacity.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Tha’anda Rubainu, said that his administration had signed the state’s Fiscal Responsibility Bill into law.

“The new state’s fiscal law is aimed at improving efficiency of fiscal management especially in the areas of allocation and management of public expenditure. “We want to improve on our revenue collection strategies, manage and control our debt and institute transparency in all our fiscal matters.

Jigawe

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has embarked on market surveillance in Jigawa to check the circulation of unwholesome water in the state.

The NAFDAC Director in Jigawa State, Mr Kenneth Azikwe, said in an interview in Dutse that the agency had deployed its surveillance teams to its six zonal offices in the state.

Azikwe said that the agency was sensitising producers to ensure proper labelling of their products to guard against adulteration.

The director said that the agency had registered all producers of sachet water in the state and put in place an effective mechanism to ensure compliance with regulations.

“We are geared to see that producers of sachet water maintain good production practices. “We are also calling on people to reject any product or sachet water without NAFDAC registration number,” he said.

Kaduna

The Katsina State Government, says it has engaged 5,000 women to plant Moringa across the state. Moringa is locally known as Zogale.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Ibrahim Shema on Economic Matters, Alhaji Garba Matazu, told newsmen on Tuesday in Katsina that the initiative was part of the government’s women empowerment programme.

He said the women were selected from across the 34 local government areas and were empowered to raise nurseries with a view to setting up plantations in the future.

Matazu said the state plans to export the moringa leaves and oil, which have nutritional and medicinal values.

Kano

The Police Command in Kano State, has warned against the use of knockout and other fireworks in the state.

The warning was issued by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Charge of Sabon- Gari, Mr Shuaibu Bello, a Chief Superintendent of Police, during a stakeholders meeting in Kano.

Bello said the command had observed the rampant use of knockout and fireworks during festive periods in the state.

He advised parents, guardians, religious leaders and ward heads, to caution their children and followers against the trend as the law banning fireworks and knockout is still in force.

The DPO warned that the command would not hesitate to deal with anyone caught.

Kebbi

Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, will spend about N95.7million on fresh and reaccreditation of courses.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, said in, Kebbi, that the National Universities Commission (NUC) would conduct the exercise on Nov. 25.

“The accreditation of courses in universities is a national issue and we cannot be an exception. With the release of funds from the State Government, we hope to fulfil all requirements for sustained academic and administrative activities,” he said. He said 10 programmes would be subjected to the re-accreditation process, while four courses would be accredited for the first time.

Zuru commended the State Government for releasing the funds. He said the money had enabled the institution to rehabilitate its infrastructure as well as improve facilities for academic and administrative work.

Kwara

A former Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Babatunde Mohammed has canvassed first line charge for the Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils in Nigeria.

He said on Monday that the measure would further deepen democracy and promote good governance.

The former speaker said that the Houses of Assembly under the present dispensation needed to discharge their duties diligently.

Mohammed also called for the abolition of State/ Local Government Joint Accounts as it will accelerate development at the grassroots. He said that the present dispensation had caused some drawbacks on governance at the local government level, noting that non-performance was inevitable.

Ogun

The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, has called for constitutional role for traditional rulers as well as the creation of Ijebu State. Adetona made the call during a presentation at the public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution in East Ogun Senatorial District, held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun. Awujale said the current constitution had no role for traditional institution, in spite of its important and relevant contributions to the development of the nation. The monarch said before the arrival of the colonial masters, traditional rulers governed and administered their kingdoms and communities. “There is therefore need for a defined role for traditional rulers in our constitution. “This should include but not limited to their respective state and local government areas, without prejudice to whatever national roles they may be invited to play in the interest of the nation.“

Oyo

The Country Manager of Harvest Plus in Nigeria, said Mr Paul Ilona said the organization planned to reach about 1.8 million Nigerian households by 2016 with fortified Vitamin A maize. Ilona in Ibadan on Monday that the programme would reach 25,000 households in the first year.

He said that the plan was to multiply intensively the bio-fortified maize crops so that by 2014, many households would be reached. “Before the end of phase two of our bio-fortification programme, which will continue till 2018, we want to reach out to about eight million Nigerians who should be planting bio-fortified crops. “For now, our areas of focus in Nigeria are cassava and maize, but in the near future we will bring fortified millet.” Ilona said. He said the fortified maize would also complement the nutrients in the diet of the rural poor.

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.