Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

November 28, 2014

FCT

Hajia Zainab Ahmed, the Executive Secretary,
Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (NEITI) has called on Nigerians to join hands with the Federal Government to fight corruption for nation building.
Ahmed gave the advice in Abuja at a public presentation of a book, titled: “President‘s Diary: Nigeria‘s Ethical Revolution” organised by the Office of Ethics and Moral Values.
Our correspondent reports that the 410-page book was written by 18 authors.
She said that many Nigerians had lost ethics and moral values right from homes, adding that their weak foundation must be corrected by making them adhere to ethics and moral values in their daily activities.

Kogi
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi said on Wednesday that
the state would establish Public Private Partnership (PPP) Bureau to facilitate infrastructure development in the state
Wada said this in Abuja at a World Bank sponsored training on PPP on Wednesday in Abuja.
“We are working steadily on the institutionalising framework for Public Private Partnership in Kogi State and in a matter of months a PPP bureau will be in place.
“The Kogi PPP bureau, when established, will be a one- stop business center for PPP devoid of frustrating bureaucratic delays of any kind,” he said.
According to him, this will facilitate coordination between projects initiating ministries, agencies of government and private investors.
He said that Kogi with its location and largest deposit of solid minerals in the country, offered a great opportunity for infrastructure Investments.
Wada said that unique opportunities for investment in the state were in various sectors, including transport, power, road, health, tourism.
He commended the World Bank and Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) for the training and urged participants

Kwara

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof.
AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has pleaded with health workers to stop their incessant industrial actions that often paralyse the nation’s hospitals.
He made the plea last Tuesday in Ilorin when he received members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN).
Our correspondent reports that members of the association were in Ilorin for the 46th Annual Conference and Scientific Workshop organised by the association.
Ambali said: “It is important for all professionals in the health sector to work together to put an end to strike.
“We are inspired by your comments that appreciate the fact that our (UNILORIN) academic calendar has been stable over several years.

Lagos

National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Party
(APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has advocated gender equality in policy making in the country.
Mohammed made the observation in Lagos at a summit organised by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) in partnership with United Kingdom Aid and Voices Change.
Our correspondent reports that the aim of the summit was to promote gender equality as a principle of human rights and a developmental goal.
WARDC is also advocating the rebalancing between men and women in terms of resources, legal rights, participation, decision making and equal relations.

Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-makura of Nasarawa State has
approved an upward review of the allowances of NYSC members posted to the state.
Al-makura announced this at the end of a three-week orientation for Batch C corps members held at the Majaji Dan –Yamusa NYSC orientation camp in Keffi.
In an address to the 1,782 corps members, Al-makura said the allowance would be increased from N2,000 to N5, 000 because of current economic situation in the country..
The governor urged the corps members to use the lessons gained during the orientation period to improve themselves, their host communities and the country at large.
He enjoined them to use the potential in the state to gain more experience for themselves, adding that his administration attached high premium to youth development and the NYSC scheme.

Ogun

An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court in Ogun has remanded
a 33-year-old man, Olayinka Ogundairo, in prison custody for allegedly defrauding a pastor of N400,000.
According to the prosecutor, Cpl. Moshood Hammed, the accused committed the offence sometime in February at the Saraki Adigbe area in Abeokuta.
Hammed said that the accused defrauded one Pastor Jacob Oyedokun of N400,000.00, after tendering false certificates.
“The accused entered the church of Pastor Oyedokun and claimed that he is studying abroad but his benefactor had died.
“He tendered a forged NYSC discharge certificate, a certificate of a Master of Science degree in Anatomy and Physiology from the Council of the Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, U.K., and a Kebbi State University of Science and Technology statement of results.

Oyo

The National Headquarters of Action Alliance (AA) said
that it had not been able to pick anybody as its candidate for any of the elective offices across the country.
Mr Kenneth Udeze, the National Secretary of the party, told newsmen in Ibadan that candidates of the party would be determined at a properly conducted primaries.
“As much as the party will fully participate in all the elections, candidates for all elective offices from states, national legislatures, governors and the presidency will be determined at a properly conducted party primaries,’’ he said.
Udeze said that those claiming to have picked anybody as the party’s flag-bearer must be out of tune with the national directive of the party.
He said that the Senate/House of Representatives primaries would be held on December 8; Governorship/State House of Assembly on December 9 and the National Convention on December 11.

Plateau

Sixty-one politicians, including Senator Joshua Dariye and
former Deputy Governor, Mrs Pauline Tallen, have formally returned to PDP in Plateau State.
Our correpondent reports that the returnees, who were received in style by Governor Jonah Jang, spoke through Mr Pam Gyang, Tallen’s running mate in 2011 governorship election, while in Labour Party.
Although Dariye and Tallen were not mentioned in the list of the few defectors called out, they were seated at the Nenfor Arena, Pankshin, in Plateau, where they were formally received by Jang and other party leaders.
“We are back in PDP and we have come to stay and not to leave again; PDP has been a progressive party and we have come to support it move forward.
“Most of us, the returnees, are founding members of PDP but defected due to one reason or the other but today, we are back home; there is no place like home, “ Gyang said.

Sokoto

Former Vice President and an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has donated N 8.5 million to the party in Sokoto State.
Abubakar made the donation during his visit to the state as part of a nationwide campaign to woo the delegates to the party’s forthcoming presidential primaries.
Abubakar said that N5 million was given to the party to facilitate its activities; N1 million for the party’s elders while N2.5 million was for the 50 delegates from the state.
“My aspiration is never a do-or-die affair, but to stabilise the affairs and alleviate the suffering of the people in the country.”
Abubakar also said that the party’s presidential aspirants had already reached an agreement that whoever emerged after the primary elections will be given total support from all other members of the party.

Zamfara

The Zamfara State Government, says it spends N400 million
monthly to feed the 192 secondary school students in the state.
The Executive Chairman of the state’s School Feeding Board, Alhaji Atiku Maradun, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Gusau.
Maradun said the state government gave priority to secondary schools’ feeding as part of its efforts to improve secondary education in the state.
He added that the secondary school feeding programme had reduced the difficulties faced by parents in sponsoring their children in boarding schools and consequently increased the enrolment of students into secondary schools across the 147 wards in the state.

L-R: Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, wife of former Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Jakande and Chairman, Premier Lotto Ltd, Chief Keshington Adebutu, at the 2,600 days in office of Gov. Fashola, recently

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

12 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

12 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

12 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.