Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

April 4, 2014

Benue
A 33-year-old prison warder, Kenneth Jinge, has
been remanded in prison by a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court over alleged murder of a Road Safety Officer, Mr Aloysius Oguakwe.
The accused is facing a charge of culpable homicide punishable under Section 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue.
The Prosecutor, Mr James Zungwe, told the court that the wife of the deceased, Uzoamaka Oguakwe, reported the matter to the ‘B’ Division police station, Makurdi, on March 18.
According to the wife of the deceased, the accused, who is their neighbour at BNARDA office, Makurdi and a staff of Nigeria Prison Service, had engaged her husband in a fight on that fateful day.

Borno
The Borno State Government has donated N10 mil
lion to the State contingents to the 2014 National Qur’anic Recitation Competition held in Dutse in March.
Governor Kashim Shettima announced the donation while receiving members of the team in his office in Maiduguri, the State capital.
Shettima said the gesture was in recognition of the superlative performance of the team at the competition which made the state proud.
He said the money should be shared equally among the seven members of the team who won laurels and their coaches.

Ekiti
A socio-cultural women group,‘Elegbe-Ulu‘, in Oye
Local Government Area of Ekiti State has advised politicians to abstain from what would spark off violence and disharmony in the state.
The leader of the group, Mrs Bolaji Omoleye, gave the piece of advice in an interview with newsmen in Oye-Ekiti.
Omoleye, who was reacting to utterances by some politicians recently, said that such could result into violence, attacks and counter attacks among party loyalists.
According to her, it is the wishes of every woman in the state that the forthcoming governorship election is conducted under peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

FCT
A Public Health Physician, Dr Baba Ahmed has cautioned
Nigerians against excessive intake of alcohol to prevent chronic liver cirrhosis, dementia or mental disorder.
Ahmed, who works with the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) told newsmen in Abuja that alcohol addicts were at risk of contracting Alzheimer’s or Parkinson disease.
According to Wikipedia an online dictionary, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, there is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death.
Parkinson disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, while dementia is a serious illness affecting a person’s brain and memory.

Gombe
The federal and Gombe State governments have provided
farm inputs to 16,000 rice farmers to boost dry season farming in the state, an official has disclosed.
The Programme Manager of the Gombe State Agricultural Development Programme (GSADP), Mr Ishaya Ngale, made this known to newsmen in Gombe recently.
Ngale said while the Federal Government supplied 25kg rice seeds and three bags of fertiliser to each farmer, the state government supplimented with water pumps, free tractor services and fertiliser.
According to him, the state government has 20 clusters of rice farmers spread across Funakaye, Kwami, Yamaltu/Deba and Balanga local government areas.

Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has pledged to
work closely with the Corporate Affairs Commission to strengthen its capacity to register all existing businesses in the state.
The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Joshua Uchissa made the pledge in Kaduna at a workshop on business registration organised by CAC and GEMS3.
The workshop had as its theme: “Promoting Business in our Country”.
Uchissa said the state government had since put in place relevant machinery to fast track the registration of businesses, to boost the confidence of investors.

Kwara
The acting Director of the Centre for Peace and
Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Dr Mahfouz Adedimeji, has urged the Federal Government to establish a Ministry of Peace in the country.
Adedimeji, who made the call while receiving national leaders of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), said current developments in the country had made such a ministry imperative.
The SPSP is a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting peace and conflict resolution.
Adedimeji also said conflicts could be resolved by war, court and dialogue, adding that efforts were not being made to resolve issues through a peace ministry.

Lagos
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has
urged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to shun truancy and other forms of anti-social behaviour that would jeopardise their future.
Fashola stated this at the closing ceremony of the three-week orientation programme for the Batch A members at the NYSC camp at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.
He urged the corps members to be good ambassadors of the NYSC by engaging in productive activities
The governor, represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed, also implored employers in the state to assign challenging duties to corps members deployed to their organisations.

Nasarawa
The Chairman of Nasarawa-Eggon Local Govern
ment in Nasarawa State, Mr Akolo Amed, said corruption and indiscipline must be rooted out in order to build a virile country.
He made the observation in Nasarawa-Eggon during his maiden meeting with workers of the local council.
The chairman said that it was the responsibility of all Nigerians to help in building a strong, virile country by doing the right thing at all times.
Amed, who blamed indiscipline for the pervasive corruption in the country, cautioned leaders to always be prudent and patriotic in their conduct in order to inspire their followers.

Niger
The Federal Government has expressed its readi
ness to partner with Niger, Kogi and Benue governments to establish three crop processing zone.
Regional Director, North-Central, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Sunday Edibor, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
He said that the move was to ensure food security not only in the zone but also a way of making various crops available in the country.
“The Federal Government has created three staple crops processing zones in the three states to ensure food security in the country,’’ he said.

Ogun
An Ota Senior Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State has
remanded two men, Godwin Edeh, 27, and Edeh Destiny, 30, for allegedly stealing a Bajaj tricycle worth N125,000.
The Magistrate, Mrs Titi Bello, directed that the accused be kept behind bars, pending the time their bail would be considered.
The accused are facing a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has sent
a bill to the state House of Assembly seeking the establishment of a Special Offences Court.
In a letter dated December 1, 2013 which accompanied the bill to the Assembly, the governor explained that the court would handle various environmental offences in the state.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, read the letter at plenary in Osogbo.
“The State Executive Council at its meeting on December 1, 2013, considered and approved a bill for the establishment of State of Osun Special Offences Court,” the letter stated.

L-R: Lagos Stae Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, Secretary to State Government, Dr Ranti Adebule, Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris and Governor Babatunde Fashola, inaugurating Lagos State Expanded School Eye Health Programme in Lagos, recently. 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.