Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

October 30, 2013

Adamawa

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development says it has registered 13,335 farmers for the 2013/2014 dry season farming in Adamawa State.
The Federal Director of Agriculture in the state, Dr Walia Hamman, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Yola.
Hamman said that the development followed the successful implementation of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) in the state.
He added that the dry season farming scheme was the first of its kind, introduced by the Federal Government.

Borno

The Borno State Government has
presented certificates to 40 Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients, who were trained on various skills.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Inna Galadima, said at a ceremony to present the certificates in Maiduguri that the women had undergone successful corrective surgery.
Galadima said that the women were trained in tailoring and catering services to enable them sustain themselves.
“I am pleased to inform you that the trainees have learnt different income generating skills that will assist them to improve their health conditions and provide support to their families.

Ekiti

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has
advised unemployed graduates in Ekiti State to make themselves available for the various skill acquisition programmes of the directorate.
The State NDE Coordinator, Mrs Adeola Shafaru, gave the advice, while speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti.
She stressed that jobless graduates would become gainfully employed if they embraced the programmes.
She said that the NDE had put in place a “Graduate Attachment Programme’’, where graduates were recruited and posted to government and private establishments for a six-month training to expose them to practical experiences in various vocations.

FCT

The Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki,
has called on stakeholders in education to take urgent action and show commitment in tackling the problems of the education sector.
Turaki made the call in Abuja at the Pre-AGM Dinner of Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA).
“There is no substitute for good and qualitative education and we must all agree that education is the business of all.
“To ensure any transformation, there must be functional and social infrastructure, which education is a larger part,” he said.

Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC) in Jigawa last Saturday said that it had arrested two suspects (names withheld) for allegedly stealing diesel.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, told newsmen in Dutse that the suspects were arrested on the Dutse-Huguma road by NSCDC officers who were on patrol of the area.
He explained that the suspects were arrested in a Golf car that was fully loaded with 30 jerry cans, containing 25 litres of diesel each.
Gidado said that the diesel was suspected to be stolen from the yards of Dantata and Sawoe, as well as Setraco construction companies.
Kaduna

A Catholic priest, Rev. James Bako, has urged
Nigerians to ensure equity and justice for all persons, irrespective of their religious affiliations or status in society.
Bako made the call in his homily at the Our Lady of Fatima Chaplaincy, Sabo in Kaduna State.
The cleric called on the populace to be humble, advocate truth and pray for peace, unity and development of the nation.
He also urged the citizenry to be unbiased in their judgments and to imbibe positive attitudes.

Kano

Female members of All Farmers Association of
Nigeria (AFAN), in Kano State, have called on the state government to include them as beneficiaries when distributing fertilisers.
Leader of the women farmers, Hajiya Fatima Kiru, told newsmen in Kano that government should also give them implements for irrigation farming.
“We are calling on the state government to give special consideration to our members in the distribution of fertilisers for this year’s dry season farming’’, Kiru said.
She said the call was necessary because members of the association produced about 500,000 bags of rice during dry season farming in the state.

Kwara

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has
advised the new local government chairmen in the state, to practise politics of inclusion in their respective council areas.
He gave the advise while speaking with newsmen on the outcome of Saturday’s local government elections in 15 local government areas of the state.
Ahmed urged the winners to see their victory as part of nation building and therefore, be magnanimous in victory so as to collectively move the state forward.
“We are running a true democracy in the state and in an ideal democratic setting, people are free to do things the way they want it.

Lagos

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly,
Suuru Avoseh has warned Lagos residents to desist from patronising roadside food vendors to prevent the spread of cholera disease in the state.
Avoseh, who is the Chairman of House Committee on Health Services, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen in Lagos State.
“The most important step to prevent the spread of cholera disease is to be conscious of whatever we eat.
“People should stay away from roadside foods; they should also be careful of the water they drink.

Niger

The Niger State Government has approved the sales
of uncompleted 250 housing units opposite Zuma Rock in Suleja in line with the tripartite arrangement for the project in 2003.
The Commissioner for Land and Housing, Dr. Peter Sarki, told newsmen in Minna that the State Executive Council approved the sales in agreement with the two other parties involved.
Sarki said the other two parties involved were Federal Mortgage Bank and Sintax Nigeria Limited.
He recalled that the Federal Mortgage Bank had earlier agreed to provide N639.7 million in three tranches of 40 per cent initial release and 30 per cent each in two subsequent releases.

Plateau

The wife of late Senator Gyang Dantong, Mrs Hanatu
Dantong, has inaugurated four health centres initiated by her husband and completed by his successor, Sen. Gyang Pwajok in Jos.
The widow inaugurated the Plateau North constituency projects at the behest of Pwajok in memory of his late predecessor, who died in a stampede on July 8, 2012, when gunmen attacked mourners in Bachit, Plateau State.
The four health centres, undertaken by the office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) included a Management Care ward and Primary Health Care (PHC) centre facility at the Christian Hospital, Vom, as well as a PHC centre at Fan-Loh and Bisichi in Barkin-Ladi, Plateau.
Also inaugurated was a block of three classrooms, VIP toilets and boreholes at the Jos Township Primary School.

Taraba

The DSK Foundation, a non-governmental
organisation, has urged the people of Taraba State to eschew violence and embrace peace so as to enhance the socio-economic development of the state.
The foundation’s President, Chief David Kente, gave the advice in Wakari at the end of a two-day workshop on “Peace as a Panacea for Development’’, organised by the foundation.
Kente stressed that the recurrent acts of violence in parts of the state had slowed down economic activities, adding that the development had further aggravated the rate of poverty and hunger in the society.
“We must eschew violence and imbibe the spirit of ‘give and take’, so as to promote peace and development in the state.

L-R: Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State when General Abubakar paid a courtesy call in Sokoto, yesterday.

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.