Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

November 8, 2013

Bauchi

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Devel
opment says it has started the second phase of aerial spray to check the menace of Quilea birds in the state.
A Director in the state ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf, said the 2013 North-East Quilea Birds Control programme was to ensure food security and improve the income of the farmers.
According to him, these noble objectives cannot be achieved without effective pest control measures, especially Quilea birds with capabilities of destroying huge hectares of land.
“The Federal Government through Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) is heavily intervening in the agricultural sector to boost agricultural productivity under its Growth Enhancement Support scheme (GES).

Benue

A Makurdi Upper Area Court has sentenced
one Mohammed Ali, 21, to one year imprisonment for stealing a motorcycle.
The Judge, Mrs Felicia Ikyegh, while delivering the judgement, observed that the accused had shown remorse for his actions, while also being honest in admitting guilt, but declared that he would be punished to deter other youths from such actions.
Ikyegh sentenced the convict to one year imprisonment with an option of five thousand naira fine.
“The accused shall serve one year imprisonment or pay an option of five thousand naira fine.
“In addition to his fine, he shall pay N50,000 compensation to the owner of the motorcycle,’’ she declared.

Borno

The Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) in Borno said
that 39 persons died in the area in separate accidents between January and October.
Commandant of the FRSC in the state, said this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Bazza said the victims died in 54 accidents, adding that 280 persons sustained severe injuries during the mishaps.
He attributed the spate of accidents to reckless driving on highways and disregard for traffic rules and regulations on the part of drivers.

FCT

The House of Representatives has resolved to
conduct public hearing on the alleged plan to sell the official residence of Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.
The committee is to establish the veracity of the allegation and report back to the House within one Month.
It also mandated the committee to ensure that adequate resources are allocated in the 2014 budget to undertake repairs of the property so that the Permanent Representative could move into the residence.
It further directed the committee to urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to stop every lease or renting agreements of any apartments whatsoever, for the permanent representative at the expiration of such current leases or renting agreements.
Kano

The ECWA Eye Hospital, Kano, said it carried out free
eye operations for 300 adults at Gezawa, headquarters of the local government.
Dr Abu Sunday, Medical Director of the hospital, told newsmen in Kano that another set of 11 children were operated in the ongoing free eye camps.
“Many of such operations are done solely by the hospital or in conjunction with both local and international partners.
“Most of our free eye camps are conducted outside this facility; we go out to meet with those in need of help to save them from going blind.
Kebbi

Executive Director, National Cereals Research Institute
(NCRI), Birnin- Kebbi, Dr Mark Ukwungwu, said the institute had released 301 varieties of rice seedlings to farmers.
Ukwungwu announced this in Birnin-Kebbi during the distribution of rice seedlings to farmers as part of activities to mark the Rice Farmer’s Field Day 2013.
He said the institute had accelerated the development of 120 high yielding varieties of rice.
Ukwungwu added that 30 varieties had been screened and approved for farmers in Kebbi State.

Kwara

A housewife, Ketim Isiaka, has urged an Ilorin Area Court
to dissolve her three-year-old marriage to Sule, over her husband’s alleged hot temper.
Ketim, 28, of Maraba Area, Ilorin, told the court that Sule was too harsh and easily provoked at slightest provocation.
“My husband will at times beat me unnecessarily and fail to taste the food I prepare for him,’’ she said.
She said the marriage was contracted in 2010 and had produced two children, Rashidat and Mariam.
“My Lord, I want an end to this marriage because I cannot cope with a man that cannot control his emotion,’’ she said.

Niger

The Ministry of Information said it would work towards
implementing the 22 per cent weigh-in allowance for media workers in Niger State.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Bala Moni made the promise in Minna when state executive members of Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union visited him.
He noted that the media weigh-in allowance was being enjoyed by media practitioners at the federal level and other states.
He added that the allowance would improve the services of media workers when paid.

Ogun

The Ogun State Government has announced a ban on
cattle rearing along the Abeokuta -Sagamu-Siun Expressway.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, announced the ban in Abeokuta at a meeting with leaders of the Fulani/Hausa communities in the state.
Adeoluwa said the step was part of measures to check criminal activities in the axis.
He noted that there had been a sudden rise in criminal activities in recent times in the area, adding: “most of these unwholesome developments were linked to herdsmen operating on the highway.”
Oyo

A 56-year-old man, Adegoke Oladipupo, was arraigned
on charges of stealing and possessing a gun.
He was brought before an Ibadan Chief Magistrate Court, sitting at Iyaganku.
Oladipupo was arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and possession of a single-barrel gun unlawfully.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Ogunremi, told the court that Oladipupo conspired with others now at large to commit the offence.
Ogunremi alleged that the accused stole one blue boxer Bajaj motorcycle with registration number: Lagos QS 080 FKJ, valued at N125,000, property of one Ramon Ajibade of Dalute Sanni Village, Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan.

Plateau

The Plateau State Police Command says it has smashed
four armed robbery gangs and arrested 11 persons suspected to be members of the gangs “terrorising” Jos and its environs.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Chris Olakpe, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Jos.
“The suspects were arrested in four different operations. The squad has been working hand-in-hand with intelligence department of the command to achieve the success, “ he said.
Olakpe said that the first gang of three armed robbery suspects was arrested on Sept. 28, by operatives in Laranto Division, Jos.

Yobe

L-R: Former Head of State, Rtd Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami, Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State and Founding Director, Forum for Cities in Transition, Prof. Padiraig O’malley, at the 4th International Conference on Peace and Reconciliation in Kaduna last Monday.
Photo: NAN

The Yobe State Government says it vaccinated more
than five million cattle in the past three years against animal diseases to prevent loss of livestock.
The state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, said this in Damaturu while launching the annual livestock mass vaccination campaign.
He said that the state government embarked on the campaign to check the danger posed by diseases on livestock and livelihood of farmers.
”The vaccination is to check these diseases in order to meet international standards,” the governor said.

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.