Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

June 22, 2016

Borno

The Nigerian Army says Boko Haram terrorists now
evade drones and aircraft surveillance by hiding in makeshift camps covered with shrubs.
The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, revealed this new tactic in a statement in Maiduguri.
Usman said in the statement that the discovery was made during a clearance operation in the North Eastern area of Kumshe in Borno.
“Troops of 7 Division Strike Group Team B, attached to 21 Brigade have braved harsh climatic conditions to clear seven villages of Boko Haram terrorists’ presence in the North East of Kumshe village.
“The villages are Mulfuta, Baibawa, Jenere, Bembem, Maksamari, Bula Kafie and Bula Bodi”.
FCT

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), has expressed the readiness of the commission to offer the required training to officers of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), in order to enhance its operations.
The acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, gave the assurance in Abuja when he received a delegation from the FRC, led by the Chairman, Mr Victor Muruako.
Magu said that the EFCC had world class training facilities and resource persons to aid the operations of the FRC.
In his remarks, Muruako expressed the need for the two agencies to partner to eradicate economic and financial crimes among revenue generating agencies.
“ Fiscal Responsibility Commission always has to force these revenue generating agencies to submit their annual statement of account.”

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested four
suspected armed robbers along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer DSP Zubairu Abubakar, disclosed this in Kaduna in an interview with newsmen.
According to him, the patrol team of Sabon Tasha Division received a distress call from a woman who was robbed by armed men at the Kakau over head bridge.
“When the patrol team arrived the scene, the robbers jumped out of their vehicle and ran into the bush.
`Members of the patrol team chased them and succeeded in arresting four of them,” Abubakar said.

Kano
No fewer than 3.6 million malnourished children have
been treated in Kano State under the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programme of UNICEF which started in the state in 2010.
The Nutrition Officer, Kano State Ministry of Health, Hajiya Halima Musa, made the disclosure during a field trip to Sharada Primary Health Center, Kano, organized for journalists by UNICEF recently.
The trip was to acquaint journalists drawn from Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Taraba, Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa and Jigawa, on malnutrition control in the state.
She said that 30 centers for the treatment of malnutrition had been opened in six selected local governments of the state.
Musa further revealed that 103,376 malnourished children were treated across the centers in 2015.
Kogi

Governor Yahya Bello of Kogi State, has warned those
using religion and ethnicity to divide the people of the state to desist from that.
Bello gave the warning in Lokoja while speaking at the inauguration of the state chapter of the Coalition for the All Progressive Congress (APC) Support Groups.
He said that the state had witnessed dirty politics of tribalism and ethnicity and stressed the need for a complete break.
” Our plan is to usher in a better and greater Kogi where people will see themselves as one irrespective of tribe and religion and ensure that the state rank among the best in Nigeria.
“Kwara
The Olomu of Omu-Aran In Kwara State, Oba Charles
Ibitoye, has commended the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for the distribution of free prepaid meters to its customers in Omu-Aran district.
He gave the commendation while addressing members of the Artisan Congress of Nigeria, Omu-Aran chapter, in his palace in Omu-Aran on Sunday.
Our ccorespondent reports that IBEDC had, a few days ago, begun free installation of 517 meters under its Free Prepaid Meters Roll-out Scheme to customers in the district.
Omu-Aran district comprises Offa, Ajase-Ipo, Oro, Oke-Onigbin, Oko, Osi and Egbe, among others.

Lagos
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has called on
individuals and corporate bodies to support the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to improve on its rescue operations during emergencies.
The branch Chairman of the NSE, Mr Olalekan Taiwo, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
Taiwo said disasters could affect everybody wherever they occurred, adding that it required cooperation from everyone to improve disaster and rescue management and reduce casualties.
“All hands should be on deck to ensure that disaster management and rescue operations are not left in the hands of government alone.
Nassarawa

Nasarawa State Chairman of All Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Ahmed Suleiman-Wambai, has urged the state chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to suspend its ongoing strike.
Sulieman-Wambai, who is also the Sole Administrator of Lafia Local Government Area (LGA), made the call shortly after a stakeholders meeting in Lafia.
He said that the teachers should call off the strike and return to their duty posts in the interest of the pupils and the state in general.
“It is not the intention of the state or the respective LGAs not to pay any worker in the state; the situation should be blamed on the state’s dwindling resources brought about by a downturn in the nation’s economy”, he said.
Niger

The Niger State Commissioner for Information, Cul
ture and Tourism, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, has appealed to traders in the state to reduce prices of commodities in this holy month of Ramadan.
Vatsa told journalists in Minna last Thursday that it was unfair to increase the prices of food during Ramadan.
“We are all experiencing hard times; so we should not add to it by increasing the prices of goods and services unjustly”, he said.
According to him, reducing the prices of food stuffs during Ramadan and thereafter attracts rich rewards from Allah, the Creator of the universe.
No fewer than 19 persons lost their lives in an auto
crash that occurred on Sunday along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway recently.
Our correspondent reports that the accident occurred at about 1 p.m. around Fidiwo/Ajebo axis of the road.
The Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the accident.
According to him, the accident involved a tanker, laden with fuel, with plate number, RAN 571 XA, and an 18-seater passenger bus with registration number LAGOS AGL 373 XR and an articulated vehicle marked AJG 40 XA.
Akinbiyi explained that the fuel truck travelling towards Ibadan rammed into the articulated vehicle conveying cement, while trying to overtake it at a diversion, and collided with commercial bus heading towards Lagos.
He said all the 19 occupants of the bus lost their lives on the spot, adding that evacuation was ongoing at the time of filing this report.

Oyo
The face-off between the Oyo State Government and
labour may soon be over as the two parties commenced reconciliatory talks in Ibadan.
Our correspondent reports that workers led by the national leadership of the NLC had on June 6 declared an indefinite strike over their unpaid six months salaries.
The workers also rejected government’s controversial education initiative to involve private participation in the management of public secondary schools while also demanding the withdrawal of all charges against the labour leaders in a court of law.
A five-hour reconciliatory meeting facilitated by the State House of Assembly, however, held at the Executive Chambers of the Governors Office.
Speaking after the meeting, which ended at exactly 8.15p.m., the parties told newsmen that the reconciliatory process was on course.

Taraba
A group, Concerned Taraba Tiv Youth Frontier
(CTTYF), has donated relief materials to victims of herdsmen’s attacks currently camping in Sabon-Gida, Dan-Anacha and Korum villages of Taraba.
The Chairman of group Mr Dooior Torkula, presented the materials to the Chief of Gassol, Simon Erentsa for onward distribution to the IDPs in the three camps.
Torkula said the group decided to assist so as to reduce the effects of the economic crunch being experienced in the country, saying the IDPs were the worst hit in the period.
He urged the people not to lose faith as the Federal and State Governments were doing everything possible to ensure security of lives and property.
The chairman appealed to the displaced persons to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement and criminal act to the security agencies.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.