Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

January 7, 2013

Adamawa

Alhaji Sahabo Jauro, the newly elected Chairman of Mubi North Local Government of Adamawa, has inaugurated five supervisory councillors and four special advisers.

At the inauguration on Wednesday, Jauro directed the appointees to submit their blueprints for improving the local government area as their performance would be assessed after nine months.

“After nine months we will assess your performance and see whether to allow you to continue or to replace you,’’ Sahabo said.

The chairman urged them to work hand-in-hand with elected councillors to ensure harmony.

Bauchi

The Bauchi State House of Assembly has pledged to enact more people-friendly legislation in 2013.

The Speaker, Alhaji Yahya

Miya, gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi. Miya said that the Assembly would be more proactive in its responsibilities in the New Year.

“We had fruitful relationship with the executive last year and this enabled us to pass various bills on critical sectors like health, education, youth empowerment and job creation,’’ he said.

Ekiti

Politicians in Ekiti State have been urged to shun activities capable of causing disaffection among the people ahead of next year’s governorship election.

The Chief Missioner of Ansar -Ur- Deen in the State, Sheik Ameen Adebayo, made the call at an inter-denominational prayer session organised by the state government for a crisis-free new year.

He urged politicians in the state to shun violence and watch their utterances as they prepare for the 2014 governorship election in the state.

Gombe

Alhaji Ali Goro, the Chairman, Joint Association of Physically Challenged Persons in Gombe, has called on the state government to involve members in employments concerning them.

Goro said involving members in policies and programmes involving them was necessary to avoid ‘diversion of slots’ meant for them.

The chairman was reacting to the 2013 budget proposal presented to the House of Assembly by Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo last week which made provision for the creation of jobs and skill acquisitions for the handicapped.

Jigawa

The Jigawa Government has proposed N4.4 billion as capital investment in agriculture for the 2013 fiscal year.

This is contained in the 2013 Appropriation Bill submitted to the state’s House of Assembly by Gov.

Sule Lamido in Dutse. Lamido said the amount was provided for agricultural extension services, rehabilitation of irrigation fields, livestock and grazing lands development projects.

He explained that part of the amount would be spent on the procurement and distribution of fertilisers, seeds and other inputs to farmers.

Kano

Some Kano residents on Wednesday in Kano commended Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s administration for initiating adult literacy classes in the state.

Some of the prospective students of the classes, who spoke with our correspondent, expressed optimism that the initiative give them a new lease of life. “I was encouraged by my children to enroll into the classes to be formally educated,’’ Malam Sanda Uwaisu said.

He wished that someday he would be able to read newspapers written in Hausa as he had always relied on his children to read and then tell him the news.

Katsina

The Katsina State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday said that two people died in a New Year Day accident at Dandagoro, in Batagarawa Local Government area of the state.

Alhaji Habu Dauda, the FRSC Sector Commander, disclosed this in an interview with news in Katsina.

He said that a man and a woman lost their lives in the accident, which occurred at about 9.22 p.m. On Jan. 1.

Dauda said that the accident involved an unmarked motorbike and a Volkswagen Golf 3 car, with Reg. No. CF927ABC.

Kebbi

The Emir of Zuru in kebbi, Alhaji Sani Sami, has called on prominent people from the emirate to empower the youth, and work for the unity and development of the area. Sami made the call in Zuru while honouring some prominent persons from the area.

He said the people were honoured in recognition of their achievements, “especially for their exemplary conducts and activities’’

Kwara

An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court has remanded two students, Bala Abubakar and Sambo Aminu, over alleged possession of Indian hemp.

The accused were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Kwara Police Command on Unity Road in Ilorin.

According to the charge sheet, the accused persons were arrested on Dec. 30 after a search conducted on them revealed substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

The charge sheet said that when the accused persons were interrogated, they could not give a satisfactory account of the substances found on them.

Ogun

The Ogun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it had arrested two suspected pipeline vandals on Ajede road in Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s spokesman, Kareem Olanrewaju, told newsmen in Abeokuta that the suspects were aged 35 and 55.

“The suspects were operating with guns along side with others now at large. “Our surveillance team deployed to monitor the activities of vandals around the place relayed the information but the suspects took off before the arrival of the combat team, ‘’ he said.

Oyo

The Oyo State Police Command said on Wednesday that it was expecting an additional 300 newly-recruited officers in January to boost its manpower.

The police spokesman, Mr Ayodele Lanade, said this in Ibadan while speaking with newsmen

“Due to the nature of crime, you cannot rest on your oars. “Criminals keep changing the way they operate and so, the police cannot afford to relax, he said.

Plateau

The Speaker of Plateau House of Assembly, Mr John Dabwan, has called for peaceful coexistence in 2013 among the various tribes in the state.

Dabwan told newsmen in Jos that people should work together for peace to return and for tourism to flourish once again in the state.

He also called on the people to support government efforts to develop the state.

Yobe

The Yobe Government on Wednesday mounted a water-tight security at the Yobe State House of Assembly in Damaturu, hours before Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam presented the state’s 2013 budget.

Our Source said that the road to the assembly complex on Maiduguri road in Damaturu had been cordoned off by stern-looking security operatives.

Top government functionaries and reporters going to the assembly were subjected to vigorous screening by the security operatives.

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.