Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

May 25, 2016

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo (left) and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (right), acknowledging cheers from the crowd on arrival, at Tafawa Balewa Square, venue for the inauguration of some security equipment, during the working visit of the Vice President to Lagos State as representative of President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

Borno

The Victims Support Fund (VSF) says it has so far donated
millions of naira to 16 hospitals across the North East Zone for the treatment of Boko Haram insurgency victims.
The Vice-Chairman of the Fund, Alhaji Tijjani Tumsa, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Tumsa said that the VSF had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the benefiting hospitals to ensure that the money was put to proper use.
“A total of 16 hospitals have so far benefited from our cash donation toward facilitating free treatment for victims of terrorism across the North East Zone.
“It is imperative to note that we also signed an MoU with the beneficiaries before presenting the donation, “ he said.
Tumsa explained that the objective was to ensure judicious utilisation of the fund.

Ekiti

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has urged the people
of Oke-Ako to remain calm as security agents try to fish out those who killed two persons in the community recently.
This is contained in a statement by the governor’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Lere Olayinka.
The statement condemned the attack by suspected herdsmen on residents of Oke Ako town in Ikole Local Government Area of the State.
“Fayose described the attack which claimed two lives as the height of callousness on the part of the cattle rearers.
“He warned the perpetrators to desist from such heinous crime as he would not guarantee whether there could be reprisal attacks if repeated on the town or elsewhere.’’
It added that the agents of the devil must be fished out and punished accordingly.

FCT

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas,
said the Nigerian Navy had in its 60 years of existence developed the capacity to address Nigeria’s maritime crimes and related threats.
Ibas stated this at the interdenominational church service for Nigerian Navy’s Diamond Jubilee in Abuja.
The CNS said the navy had developed capacity both in platforms and the requisite expertise to secure the nation’s oil infrastructure and contain piracy in Nigeria’s maritime territory.
“Over the years, commendable successes have been made by the Nigerian Navy to build its capacity to discharge its duties as enshrined in the laws.
“These efforts have made the navy to be less-dependent on foreign sources for partnership as reflected in the modest achievement of local construction of boats or seaward defence platforms.

Kano

The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has directed all
intending pilgrims to 2016 Hajj to Saudi Arabia to go for mandatory medical test.
The hajj will commence on May 25.
The Public Relations Officer of the board, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, gave the directive in an interview with newsmen in Kano recently.
Badamasi said the medical test was necessary because no intending pilgrim would be allowed to travel to the Holy land without knowing his or her health status.
According to him, the mandatory medical test is in compliance with the directive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Kogi

Area Court Judge Mr Timothy Salihu, and Alhaji Aliyu
Okeme, retired Chief Inspector of Area Courts in Kogi State, kidnapped on May 19, have regained their freedom.
Our correspondent, recalls that they were abducted at gun-point on Idah-Lokoja road in the Eastern flank of the state on their way to Idah.
The Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Mr Yakubu Usman, who confirmed their release, said they were found between Itobe and Ajegwu on Itobe-Anyigba road.
It could not confirmed if their families paid ransom for their release as the kidnappers had demanded one million naira.
Kwara

The Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area of
Kwara State, Alhaji Alhassan Bagudu, has called for improved funding of local government councils to ensure infrastructural development at the grassroots.
He made the call in llorin while speaking with newsmen recently.
Bagudu noted that the challenges confronting local councils included lack of portable water and other necessities of life.
Bagudu said improved funding of the councils would bring rapid social economic development to the grassroots.
The measure, he said, would also check rural urban drift and create employment opportunities.
He noted that lack of funds had seriously affected development in local government areas.

Lagos

A septuagenarian, Elder Taiwo Shoyode, has advised
the Federal Government to adopt the socio-economic policies that boosted the economy of the defunct Western Region in resolving the country’s economic quagmire.
Shoyode, father in-law to Vice-President Yemi Oshinbajo, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen at a free health progarmme, sponsored by a philanthropist, Dawodu Olatunji.
The programme, “Health is Wealth’’, is a free malaria test and drugs outreach, held at Solomon Hall, Mushin, Lagos recently.
Shoyode urged the new generation politicians to go back and study the socio-economic agenda of the then Western Region to tackle the issues of economic downturn.
He said the laudable programmes embarked upon and implemented well by the Obafemi Awolowo-led western region remained the best economic policy that might address the present day realities.

Nasarawa

The Nassarawa State Government says the report of the
recent Bank Verification Number (BVN) exercise it conducted will expose workers receiving double salaries.
The Nasarawa State Accountant General, Alhaji Mohammed Musa, said this in an interview with newsmen in Lafia.
He said the report of the exercise was in consonance with the state government’s resolve to rid the civil service of corrupt practices and ensure proper accountability.
“We embarked on this exercise to see how we can further reduce some of these leakages and corruption in the system,” he said.
According to him, civil servants caught to be enjoying multiple salaries will be made to face the wrath of the law.
Ogun

The Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, has called
on intending pilgrims to augment their 2016 interim Hajj fare from the initial sum of N800,000 to N1.180 million.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Sefiu Rasheed, made the call on Saturday while briefing news men in Abeokuta.
Rasheed said this was to enable the board to remit the required funds to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abuja, before the deadline.
According to him, the board has resolved to fix the fare at N1.180 million tentatively, pending the Federal Government’s final decision on the concessionary exchange rate.

Ondo

Four students of the Federal University of Technology,
Akure, died in a road accident on the Akure-Ilesha Expressway in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The spokesman of the Police Command in Ondo State, Mr Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident and said that 11 others sustained various degrees of injuries.
Our correspondent reports that the students were returning from Ibadan after attending a religious programme.
Joseph further confirmed that the remains of the students were deposited at the Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure, where those injured were hospitalised.
No fewer than 15 students were in the Hiace bus when the accident happened.

Oyo

Assistant Director, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria
(CRIN), Ibadan, Dr Abiodun Adedeji, has urged the Federal Government to produce defined policies on cocoa production and marketing.
Adedeji made the call in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
He said it was necessary for the government to have policies on cocoa farming with appropriate institutional framework to boost its production.
The Plant Pathologist said such policies should be consistent and that which could not be affected by change of government.
“There should be a well resourced regulatory body with specified functions to promote cocoa sector.’’

Plateau

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, has decried the
abuse of Local Government Joint Account by some governors, saying he does not interfere with funds meant for local governments in the state.
Lalong stated this at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
He said that even though he did not support the local government autonomy, he abhorred a situation where a state governor would exercise undue interference in the joint account.
“ I heard stories that in some states what they do is that when the money comes, they collapse it into one account and decide what goes into each local government.
“I fought against it as a Speaker, I cannot be part of it; so when the money comes, it is meant for the local government.

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.