Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

February 27, 2013

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Ministry of Environment said recently in Bauchi that it planned to establish three new markets within the metropolis.

A Director in the Ministry, Alhaji Umar Abulkadir, told newsmen that the measure was being taken to reduce congestion in market places.

Abdulkadir said that the proposal, which was submitted few months ago, still awaited the approval of Governor Isa Yuguda.

He said that the ministry intended to establish the facilities for trade in various commodities to make the environment conducive to members of the public.

“Three new markets were proposed and we are waiting for the approval so that the traffic and other congestion will be reduced in market areas.

Ekiti

Ekiti State Environmental Health Workers recently apprehended no fewer than 41 persons for violating environmental laws.

The apprehended persons were immediately tried by the Ado-Ekiti State Environmental Mobile Court.

The trial Magistrate, Mr Bayode Owoeye, who sentenced the violators to jail terms ranging from five days, one month and two months, however, gave the convicts an option of fine, ranging from one thousand to three thousand naira.

The Prosecutor, Mrs Olubunmi Atobiloye, told newsmen that those apprehended committed the offence on February 23, at various locations in Ado-Ekiti.

FCT

The Good Tidings Church International, Abuja donated one bore hole each to five communities in the FCT last Saturday, to provide potable water to the communities.

The bore holes, valued at two million naira each, were built and donated to the communities to mark the 50th birthday of the Senior Pastor of the church, Mr Dayo Olutayo.

The benefiting communities are Angwan Gede in the Kuje Area Council, Zuba Motor Park Community in Gwagwalada Area Council and Kaba Community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

Others are Angwan Pawa, Nyanya in the Abuja Municipal Area Council and Koroduma, otherwise known as One-Man Village in Nasarawa State.

Kaduna

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to provide relevant infrastructure to promote national economic growth.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, gave the pledge last Saturday in Kaduna at the opening of the 34th edition of Kaduna International Trade Fair.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Dauda Kigbu, the minister said the government would provide trade fair complexes, shopping malls and modern abattoirs in the geo-political zones to boost domestic and international trade and investment.

According to him, the federal government is conscious of its social and economic responsibilities to Nigerians and the international community.

Kebbi

Deputy Inspector-General of Police (A) Operations, Suleiman Fakai, has tasked the Kebbi Police Command to ensure proper environmental sanitation within the office premises and barracks.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Chukwu Ikechukwu, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the DIG was on an on-the-spot assessment of police formations in line with directives of the Inspector-General, Mohammed Abubakar.

Ikechukwu said the deputy inspector-general also inspected the command headquarters at Gwadangwaji and the barracks.

He said the aim of the inspection was to assess and eventually upgrade police facilities, to enhance performance.

Kwara

The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has paraded three suspects arrested for allegedly siphoning diesel at a telecommunications installation in IIorin.

The suspects were caught siphoning diesel at a telecommunications mast located at Kuntu in the IIorin West Local Government Area of the state.

The Commandant of the NSCDC in Kwara, Mr Gana Yerima, at a news conference gave the names of the three suspects as Azeez Dosunmu, Ango Abdullahi and Abdulkareem Agaka, all residing in the Ilorin.

He said that Dosunmu and Abdullahi were private security men attached to the mast, while the third suspect Agaka was the receiver of the stolen diesel.

Lagos

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), says it started the rehabilitation of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway since February 11.

The FERMA Zonal Coordinator (South West 2), Mr Oladipo Fagbamila told newsmen in Lagos, that the repair work would be completed in three weeks.

Fagbamila said that three of the agency’s engineers had been deployed to work simultaneously on the deplorable portions of the highway to speed up the repairs.

“Two of the engineers are working on the Lagos side and one in Ogun side of the expressway.

Nasarawa

The popular Orange Market at Mararaba in Nasarawa State was thrown into pandemonium on Saturday, following the burning of shanties in the market by suspected hoodlums, our correspondent reports.

A resident in the area, Mrs Julie Efreme, told newsmen that her husband’s shop, where he sold furniture and electronics was just one of many shops burnt.

She said that she and her husband were unaware that traders were supposed to remove their shanties in the market after the traders recently contributed money to get a two-month extension on the shanties.

“The shop was full to the brim and he was not able to bring out a single thing, everything got burnt.

Ogun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun last Saturday expressed the determination of his administration to enforce strict compliance with the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the state.

Amosun spoke in Sagamu while monitoring the level of compliance during the February sanitation exercise.

He noted that the environmental sanitation programme was introduced in good faith, to ensure that the residents lived in a clean and safe environment.

Oyo

Chairman, Ibadan Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Oluseun Abimbola, has described the suspension of two judges by the National Judiciary Council (NJC) as encouraging.

Abimbola made the statement in Ibadan in an interview with the newsmen recently.

“I am really encouraged by the decision of the NJC; it is an exceptional decision and a step taken in the right direction to redeem the image of the judiciary.

“The standards and conduct expected of judges are usually high and these have been brought to bear on the decision of the NJC.

Plateau

The Chief Medical Director of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr Ishaya Pam, has described Nigerians’ tendency to rush abroad for every ailment as “wasteful and very unnecessary’’.

Pam spoke to newsmen in Jos on Sunday in an interview.

“Most of such medical journeys are purely psychological. Some are even products of ignorance because the treatment being sought for is something some hospitals in Nigeria can provide at the cheapest rates.

“The truth is that people travel abroad for conditions that can be treated here either because of lack of confidence in our health system or because the resources are available to them.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government said last Saturday it spent N3 billion to execute various Millennium Development Goals projects in its 23 local governments within three years .

The state Commissioner for Local Governments, Alhaji Faruk Malami, told newsmen in Sokoto that the projects were on health, water supply, women and youths empowerment .

According to Malami, several hospitals and primary health centres have been rehabilitated and constructed, while others were equipped .

“ Several other health facilities were also upgraded to the status of general hospitals and others were expanded.

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.