Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

November 22, 2013

Ekiti

An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court has remanded one Iboi
Sunday, 25, in prison custody for allegedly raping and strangling a 13-year-old girl to death.
Chief Magistrate Olanike Adegoke gave the order pending the outcome of the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
She adjourned the case to December13 for further hearing.
Prosecutor Sunday Onwuchekwa had told the court that the accused committed the offence on October 29, 2013 at Oshodi farm, Eyio -Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

FCT

Parents Consultative Association of Nigerian Universi
ties (PCANU) has commiserated with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the death of its former President, Prof. Festus Iyayi.
The group conveyed its message in a statement signed by its President, Mr Donald Sobara, and issued in Abuja recently.
Sobara described the late Iyayi as a renowned academic and a respected human rights activist, who had been part of ASUU’s negotiating team with the Federal Government to end the struggle.
“We must put aside everything and mourn this great man of honour and integrity.

Gombe

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to declare open
the second North-East Economic Summit scheduled for December 3 in Gombe, Gombe State.
Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the summit, Alhaji Bashir Bello-Akko, made this known when he interacted with newsmen in Gombe State.
Bello-Akko said preparations were in progress to ensure a successful summit.
According to him, two pre-summit conferences were held recently in Abuja to discuss issues that would be deliberated upon in the summit.

Kaduna

A total of 53 Cadets of the Nigeria Defence Academy
have joined the Special Elite Force after successfully completing a six-week basic airborne course at the Nigeria School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna State.
The Commandant of the School, Maj.Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the training was designed to “produce physically fit and skilled elite troops capable of being launched into battle field from an aircraft”.
Represented by Col Sani Audu, the commandant said the paratroopers had displayed high discipline and professionalism during the course.

Kano

The Joint Security Taskforce (JTF) has said it had killed
two suspected Boko Haram members at Gayawa in Ungoggo Local Government Area of Kano State.
This is contained in a statement signed by spokesman of the JTF, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, and made available to newsmen in Kano State.
The statement stated that the suspects lost their lives during an early morning operation at Gayawa general area.
“A further cordon and search operation was conducted this morning at about 6.30 at Gayawa general area”, the statement said.
Kebbi

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council
(RMRDC), says it would upgrade its intervention programmes in agriculture and mining to boost industrial development in Kebbi State.
The acting Director-General of the council, Dr Hassan Ibrahim said this in Birnin Kebbi at the opening of a capacity building workshop with the theme“Harnessing Fruit Juice Processing and Packaging in Kebbi state.”
Represented by Mr Usain Wele, the director general said the RMRDC had in the past assisted stakeholders in the state to promote their trades.
Kogi

The Kogi State House of Assembly has resolved to con
stitute a delegation to go to Benin and commiserate with the family of the late Prof. Festus Iyayi.
The resolution came after the assembly adopted a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Alhaji Yakubu Yunusa, at plenary.
Yunusa had in the motion called for the constitution of a powerful delegation from the assembly to go to Benin and commiserate with the family of the late Iyayi.
“The late professor, who was a former President of ASUU and author, was a leader who devoted and sacrificed his all for the country.
Kwara

An Ilorin Magistrate Court has remanded the tradi
tional ruler of Tewu Village, in Baruteen Local Government Area of Kwara State, Sinapatiagi Sule, for alleged inhuman treatment.
The monarch was arraigned on a four-count charge with his seven chiefs for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, causing grievous hurt, and trial by ordeal.
The chiefs are Musa Lafia, Gunu Adamu, Muhammed Akpo, Usman Sabi, Sule Taku, Gunu Ibrahim and Amuda Tabe.
Prosecutor Adekunle Iwaleye told the court that the monarch invited the seven complainants to his palace for allegedly belonging to witches and wizards.

Niger

The Niger State Government has signed a N1.2 billion
Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Soject Nigeria Limited for the upgrading of Brigi-Lapai gwari road in the state.
Alhaji Mu’azu Bawa, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Development, who signed on behalf of the state government, said that the project was designed to ease traffic congestion in the area.
He said the initial design of the road project was surface-dressing as feeder road to cater for the villages within the area.
Bawa, however, said that the state government changed the design to make it a by-pass to accommodate more traffic.
Ogun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has pre
sented a budget proposal of N210.21 billion for 2014 to the State House of Assembly.
Christened “Budget of Consolidation’’, Amosum said the 2014 was slightly lower than the 2013 figure of N211.86 billion and geared toward the actualisation of the administration’s mission to rebuild the state.
He said N117.51billion was earmarked for capital expenditure, while N92.70 billion would be for recurrent expenditure.
The governor said the expected revenue was N154.38 billion, while the capital receipt was N55.83 billion.

Ondo

A trader, Remi Lanre, has appeared before an Akure
Magistrate Court for allegedly assaulting a police officer.
The Prosecutor, ASP. Pelumi Adejuwon, alleged that the accused committed the offence on November 18, at about 1 p.m. at Ilotin, off Ijoka road in Akure.
“She unlawfully assaulted one Cpl Cecilia Adebisi, attached to Oda Divisional Police Headquarters, Akure.
“The accused rough-handled the police officer by damaging her uniform, crest and wrist watch,” he said.

Oyo

A university teacher has called for the creation of more
employment opportunities for women to improve the health status of mothers and their children.
Dr Adetola Adeoti, lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, made the call at the National Policy Seminar on Health, Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Ibadan last Tuesday.
In her paper: “Child Health and Maternal Health Status and Demand for Health Care Services in Nigeria’’, she said “educated and employed mothers will not only be healthy but also have healthy children.’’
She said Nigeria experienced significant increase in economic growth in the last decade yet the health indicators were very poor particularly in the rural areas where poverty remained high.

Taraba

The Director, Public Complaints Commission in
Taraba State, Alhaji Sa’ad Mohammed, has said that the disparities existing in salaries of civil servants in the country were unfair.
Mohammed said this in Jalingo in an interactive session with the State-Based Federal Civil Servants in Taraba State.
“I cannot understand why people who graduated from the same school, department and at the same grade level, are receiving different salaries, simply because they are not working in the same organisations.
“Some earn even three times what their mates are earning elsewhere. Are there public establishments that are not important.”
He, however, said that the disparities had recently been bridged to some extent by the present administration, but stressed that the gap was still wide.

Chairman, Gombe State Sports Commission, Mr Faruk Yarma (left), briefing Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo (right), during an inspection tour of sports facilities in Gombe last Wednesday. With them is the Principal Permanent Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Sani Joro (middle).
Photo: NAN

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

4 hours 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

4 hours 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.

Nation

Lagos Residents Stranded As Floods Cut Off Ajah, Mafoluku Communities

Published

4 hours ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

Residents of Ajah, Mafoluku and other flood-prone communities in Lagos have recounted how Thursday’s torrential rainfall left them stranded, submerged homes and cut off access to major roads.

The residents, who spoke with Tide source, on Friday called for urgent government intervention to tackle the recurring flooding blamed on poor drainage infrastructure.

Along Mobil Road in Ajah, Mrs Rukayat said floodwaters submerged about 200 metres of the road, forcing commuters to wade through waist-deep water.

“The water level was almost up to my lap. People literally had to wade through it to get home,” she said.

According to her, many motorists turned back, while others abandoned their vehicles and continued their journeys on foot.

“The only way to pass through the water was by walking or using a tricycle. Even then, the tricycles broke down and had to be pushed,” she said.

Rukayat said some youths assisted stranded tricycle operators by pushing their vehicles through flooded sections for a fee.

She said residents had repeatedly alerted authorities to the flooding but little had changed.

“We reported this when the rains started, but apparently nothing has been done about the problem,” she said.

She attributed the flooding to poor drainage and possible blockage of a major canal serving the area.

“There is a big canal here, but I don’t know what is preventing water from flowing through it properly,” she said.

According to her, overgrown vegetation and sand deposits might have obstructed the canal, reducing its capacity to discharge stormwater.

She added that although floodwaters usually receded after a few hours, sections of the road remained waterlogged.

In Mafoluku, residents said several streets, homes and access roads were submerged, leaving many unable to return home after going about their daily activities.

Mrs Iriagbonse Okunkpolor, a resident of Agboola Street, said what began as a short trip to buy household items became an hours-long ordeal.

“I left my house to buy a few items nearby, but the rain started suddenly and flooded the entire street.

“I was stranded for hours because there was no safe way back home,” she said.

Another resident, Mr Mukaila Idris, described the flooding as both dangerous and distressing.

“The current was very strong. I watched people pay young men to carry them across the water because they were afraid of being swept away or falling,” he said.

According to him, only physically fit residents could navigate the floodwaters safely, while many others waited several hours for the water level to subside.

Mr Williams Ekpo, who lives in the Eyinogun area, said the flood extended beyond the roads and entered residential compounds.

“The floodwater entered our compound and damaged some household items.

“This happens almost every rainy season, yet nothing seems to be done to address the drainage problem,” he said.

The residents urged the relevant authorities to investigate the persistent flooding and improve drainage infrastructure to prevent a recurrence during the rainy season.