Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

January 10, 2014

Adamawa

The Police Command in Adamawa State said it recorded
15 rape cases across the state in two years.
This is contained in the statistics of the cases from the command, signed by Mr Salau Usman, the command’s Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of CID in Yola last Tuesday.
The statement stated that 16 people, made up of 10 people in 2012 and six in 2013 were arrested during the period under review. It said that eight suspects were charged to court in 2012 and three in 2013.
The statistics also showed that 27 cases of house breaking and theft were also reported within the period with 12 in 2012 and 15 cases in 2013, respectively.

Borno

The Borno State Fire Service Department recorded 121
fire incidents in the state in 2013, an official said in Maiduguri last Tuesday.
The Director of Fire Service in the state, Alhaji Musa Hussaini, said in an interview that no life was lost in the incident and added that the agency was working toward protecting the lives and property of the citizens.
He said the agency had acquired 60 fire fighting vehicles to facilitate speedy response to fire outbreaks and other related incidents adding that the agency was collaborating other organisations, such as Federal Road Safety Commission and Red Cross, to save lives.
Husain said the agency had opened area offices in Bui, Hawal, Shani, Damboa, Askira Uba, Goza, Bama, Konduga and Ngala local government areas to expand its reach to local communities and appealed to the public to desist from using charcoal to warm their houses during the hamattan.

Ekiti

Any person wishing to be appointed into any public
office in Ekiti State must first ensure that he or she is qualified, with sound character and exceptional pedigree.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State made the declaration in Ado-Ekiti last Tuesday, during the swearing-in of Mr Ayoola Owolabi, the state Accountant-General as a Permanent secretary.
He said there would be no room for persons whose preoccupation was to cut corners to achieve their goals in life and restated the determination of his administration to ensure that appointment in the state civil service was based only on ability and competence, rather than patronage.

FCT

The Nigerian Army has appointed Brig.-General Olajide
Laleye as its new Director of Public Relations.
Laleye, who hails from Lagos State, was commissioned into the Nigerian Army on September 23, 1989 was until his appointment, the Commander, 1 Division Garrison, Kaduna.
He holds a B.Sc in Physics from the Nigerian Defence Academy and Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Strategy, Defence and Disaster Management from the University of Yaounde.
Speaking in Abuja at a brief handing over ceremony, Laleye said that under his leadership, the directorate would focus attention on the achievements of the various sectors in the army.
He said the directorate would key into the vision of the Chief of Army Staff “to transform the Nigerian Army into a force better able to face contemporary challenges’’.

Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State said it had set up monitoring team to check the activities of illegal Private Guards Companies (PGCs) in the state.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, said in Dutse, last Tuesday, that the move was to ensure people did not run such companies without licence.
He explained that the action was necessary to ensure proper coordination of security activities in the state and urged all other PGCs operating in the state must renew their licences for them to continue operating.
Gidado said that some of the companies operating in the state were yet to establish their offices and advised those affected to establish their offices in the state before the end of the year.

Kaduna

Former executive members of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, last Tuesday, restated their loyalty to the party, saying they were not among those who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A former zonal chairman of the party, Alhaji Maikudi Tela,who made the position of the members known in a chat with newsmen in Kaduna State dismissed the allegation that they were part of the group led by a former state PDP chairman, Alhaji Yaro Makama, who defected to the APC two weeks ago.
He assured that they were committed members of the party and would continue to be loyal to it irrespective of the current challenges.
In her contribution, a former women leader, Hajiya Hauwa Abdullahi, stressed that no woman would decamp from PDP to any party and assured that the defectors would “certainly return to the party’’.

Kano

Kano State Government said it would accommodate refu
gees evacuated from the Central African Republic whose families had not been identified.
The Executive Secretary of the State Rehabilitation and Emergency Management Board, Alhaji Bashir Nikel, said in Kano State, last Tuesday, that although people from across the state had been coming forward to claim the refugees, those whose families could not be identified “will become government’s property.”
The executive secretary said the state rehabilitation centre at Mariri would be used to accommodate the unclaimed refugees.
He, however, said that the infants and children amongst them would be taken to the children’s home and would be placed under the care of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
About 413 refugees were on Monday transported to Kano from Abuja, most of whom women and children.

Kogi

The wife of Kogi State Governor, Hajia Halima Wada,
has donated gift items to babies delivered in the state on the first day of 2014.
The wife of the governor who donated these items through the chairpersons of the local governments to mothers of the babies in Lokoja last Tuesday, said the history of Nigeria would not be complete without mentioning Lokoja as the first seat of government in Nigeria, hence the need to celebrate the centenary babies.
She said that the presentation of the gift items was to give the state its rightful place in the event and to celebrate the babies delivered during this period.
Earlier, the Director of her office, Mrs Susan Oguche, commended the governor’s wife for carrying every one along in her activities, and prayed that God would give her more grace to continue the good works.

Kwara

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State last Tuesday, said the state government would give priority to youth entrepreneurship in 2014.
Ahmed said at the graduation of Skill Acquisition programme organised by Dynamix Industrial Training Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development. He charged the 25 graduates drawn from the 16 local governments in Ilorin to take advantage of the opportunity to develop themselves and become employers of labour.
Represented by Special Assistant on Youth Empowerment, Saka Babatunde, Ahmed said his administration would continue to focus on youth development because they constituted the largest percentage of the country’s population.
Lagos

The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and
the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development lastTuesday, signed an agreement to enhance exchange of research on Africa’s continental relations.
Signing the agreement in Lagos State, NIIA’s Director-General, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, said it was imperative for the institutes to come together and contribute to the continent’s development.
He said, “We have realised that Africa’s relationship with the rest of the world has been vertical. We strongly believe that through our partnership, we can promote African renaissance and intra-African cooperation.

Nasarawa

The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, Mr Umar
Shehu, said that the command recovered a total of 40 stolen vehicles and 50 motorcycles in 2013.
Shehu, who was briefing newsmen in Lafia yesterday on the efforts of the command to combat crime in 2013, also said that 136 armed robbery suspects were arrested and prosecuted within the period under review.
He noted the crime rate in the state in 2013 reduced significantly compared to previous years as only 234 criminal cases were recorded in the year under review as against 307 cases in 2012.
Shehu said that 92 of the cases were successfully investigated, prosecuted and the suspects convicted while 22 were still under investigation.

Ogun

The Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Suraj
Adekunbi, in Abeokuta last Tuesday said the state government would continue to partner with civil servants.
Adekunbi, who gave the assurance shortly after a New Year special prayer session, said this would enhance the delivery of democracy dividends to the people of the state.
He said workers remained the engine through which the government functioned, and government had remained consistently proactive to ensure improved welfare for the workforce.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno (middle), accompanied by other officials inspecting the Chad Basin Development Authority Bump Station in New Marte in Maiduguri last Tuesday. Photo: NAN

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.