Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

December 4, 2013

Adamawa

The Chairman, Adamawa State House of Assembly
Committee on Public Accounts, Mr Wafarninyi Theman, said yesterday that the House was poised to check leakages in the state’s revenue generation capacity.
Theman told newsmen in Yola that a recent probe of the activities of the state revenue generating ministries and parastatals by his committee was in line with the house’s commitment to that effect.
He said the committee had made startling discoveries such as non remittance of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions amounting to over a billion Naira by local government councils in the state.
“We are now on the councils’ necks and about seven local government councils out of 21 have so far complied in remitting their PAYE, though seven out of 21 is not fair enough,” he said.
Theman said the committee would work closely with the Office of the state Accountant-General, to ensure discipline in government’s financial operations.

Borno

The Dangote Foundation has flagged off an
empowerment scheme for the poor in Maiduguri, aimed at distributing N10,000 cash each to about 54,000 indigent persons in Borno.
The Managing Director of the foundation, who performed the ceremony, Dr Adhiambo Odaga, said that it was part of their poverty alleviation programme.
Odaga said that the foundation was collaborating with a non-governmental organisation, Support for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya children (SWOT).
SWOT is the pet project of Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, the wife of the Borno governor.

FCT

The Senate President, David Mark, has pleaded with the
striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to work.
Mark made the plea while commissioning a lecture theatre donated to the School of Management Sciences at the Kano State Polytechnic by Sen. Kabiru Gaya.
This is disclosed in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja.
Mark said calling off the strike would salvage the already battered education sector from further deterioration.

Gombe

The Catholic Bishop of Bauchi Diocese, Most Rev.
Malachy John-Goltok, has urged Christians to use the Christmas season to reconcile with one another.
John-Goltok made the call in his sermon during the dedication of the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Tumfure, Gombe.
The cleric said that the Christmas season, which reflected the coming of Jesus Christ into the world, should not be for merry-making alone but also a period for reconciliation with one another and God.
“As we enter the advent, Christmas is a time of preparation; spiritual preparations; not just bothering with what we will eat or the cars we will drive.

Kwara

Oba Raphael Sunday, the Asolo of Isolo-Opin in Ekiti
Local Government Area of Kwara State, has called for the presence of state and federal projects in his domain.
Sunday said that this would accelerate socio-economic development in the area.
He made the call during his official coronation at Isolo-Opin last Sunday.
He said that projects, especially those in the education sector would assist the community to achieve its development objectives.

Lagos

A cleric, Pastor Faith Amaraegbu, has urged Nigerian
women to make necessary sacrifices to build their homes well in the interest of the society.
Amaraegbu, who is in charge of the Charismatic Renewal Ministries, Winners’ Assembly, Okota, Lagos, made the appeal during a public presentation of a book that focused on home- building.
The book launched in Lagos, was written by an Assistant Director (Marketing) in the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs Margret Iroha.
It is entitled: ’’ Celina, A woman of Royal Destiny’’.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Agricultural Development
Programme (NADP) has urged agricultural extension officers to initiate strategies that would address the challenges of animal production in the country.
The Programme Manager, Mr. Naphtali Dachor, made the call at the Technology Review Meeting of the programme in Gadabuke, Toto local government area of the state.
Dachor said that the call had become necessary considering the importance of animal production to the socio-economic development of the country.
He said: “The importance of animal production cannot be over-emphasised to the development of the state and the country at large.

Niger

The Niger State Government is to spend N96 million to
buy 28 flying boats for the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for water transportation.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babangida Aliyu, Alhaji Mohammed Shaba, made this known to newsmen yesterday in Minna.
Shaba said that the agency would collaborate with the state Ministry of Transportation and the Boat Divers Association on the modalities for the boat operations.
“The transportation ministry will handle the modalities of the boats operation and the necessary measures to ensure its success.
“Each of the flying boats will be equipped with life jackets for passengers, including first aid kit for their safety.’’
He said the agency would domesticate the Federal Government’s laws on inland water management, in a bid to check the activities of unscrupulous individuals, who engaged in sharp practices to the detriment of their passengers.

Oyo

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has
commiserated with the people of Akure and the Ondo State Government over the death of the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, Afunbiowo II.
A statement by the Oyo State Government, in Ibadan, described the late monarch as a good person that would be missed by the people, including Ajimobi.
The statement, which was signed by Dr Festus Adedayo, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media Matters, expressed shock at the passing on of the respected monarch,
“The people of Oyo State and its state capital, Ibadan, will miss the revered monarch, who lived in Ibadan for decades before he was crowned the Deji,’’ it said.

Sokoto

Senator Ibrahim Gobir (PDP- Sokoto), says the
National Assembly members will partner with other key stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria remains a united and indivisible entity.
According to Gobir, Nigeria will not break up in 2015, as being predicted by some people.
Gobir, who represents Sokoto East Senatorial District, told newsmen in Sokoto that such a prediction would not come to fruition and such cynics would be disappointed.
“Nigeria will rather come out stronger and more united in 2015 and beyond. Our diverse religious, ethnic and cultural differences should therefore be the basis of our unity.

Zamfara

The Zamfara State Police Command, yesterday
said it had shot dead 13 suspected armed bandits in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Lawal Abdullahi told newsmen in Gusau that one policeman also died during the shoot-out, while another sustained injuries.
Abdullahi explained that the incident took place in Jangebe village where the hoodlums were operating.
He said the police stormed the area after a tip off.
“On getting there, the robbers, numbering more than 70 men, engaged the police in a gun battle during which 13 of them were killed,’’ he said, adding that their corpses had been deposited at the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau.

President Goodluck Jonathan (right), being received by Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State on his arrival for the 2nd North-East Economic Summit in Gombe, 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.