Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

May 15, 2017

Adamawa
Adamawa State Government last Thursday inaugurated a special task force to tackle environmental problems confronting residents of Yola, the state capital.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Umar Bindir, who inaugurated the committee in Yola, urged committee members to stop illegal hawking and trading within the area.
Bindir also advised the committee to remove all the temporary structures along major roads that were not in line with the township development master plan.
He also mandated the committee members to maintain and sustain clearing of drains as well as to control haphazard packing of vehicles along major roads.
Bindir, who directed members to submit their report within three months for implementation, enjoined, them to be fair to all citizens in the discharge of their assignment.

FCT
An NGO, Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women, says it plans to increase the participation of African women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to 10 per cent by the year 2025.
The Programme Officer of the foundation, Ms. Loveth Obi, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.
According to her, women can thrive in male dominated career if they are not afraid to take risks, adopt technology in their everyday lives and be abreast with innovations.
“WAAW foundation is working successfully to increase the number of African women in STEM with a target of 10 per cent increase by the year 2025.
“The takeover of technology in almost every business sector has opened up so many doors that the line between what is possible, and impossible has become almost invisible.

Kaduna
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), in Kaduna State has appealed to the people of the State to eschew violence and embrace dialogue to ensure peaceful co-existence.
The State Director of the agency, Zubairu Galadima, made the appeal in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Patricia Onoja.
According to the director, peaceful co-existence, tolerance and unity are required to attain meaningful development in any society.
He said peace is a fragile commodity that needs to be nurtured always.
“No society can make any developmental progress if it’s citizens refuse to imbibe the culture of tolerance, peace, love and dialogue in resolving their differences.

Kano
The Kano State Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) is to commence production of 30 metric tons of fertiliser per hour before the end of this year.
Its Managing Director, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, disclosed this when some members of the Northern Elders Forum, led by Prof Ango Abdullahi, visited the company on Wednesday in Kano.
“The state government had acquired new blending machine and nine containers have arrived in Apapa port.
“When the blending machine is installed, the issue of non-availability of fertiliser will be history in the North as it will produce between 25 and 30 metric tons of fertiliser per hour,”he said.

Katsina
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State, Alhaji Yusuf Barrista, has called on elected officials to eschew making bogus promises and promoting political violence, especially among youths.
Barrista made the call in an interview with journalists in Dandume, last Thursday.
Barrista warned on the dangers of political violence, noting that such development would always subject the people to hardship and hindered development.
The chieftain stressed the need for more decorum and among politicians so that they could serve the people effectively.
He urged people, especially those living in the rural areas, not to entertain any candidate seeking for votes with bogus promises or capitalised on money to woo their votes.

Kogi
The Senior Special Assistant on Electronic Media to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Mr. Gbenga Olorunpomi, has said that the state government was not owing salaries of civil servants.
Olorunpomi told newsmen in Abuja last Thursday that the government had paid the salaries of all workers cleared by the recently concluded civil servants verification exercise.
“This government came to power at the time civil servants were on strike; the issue that led to the strike was that of the salaries owed to the workers for many months.
“At that time, all schools in the state were shut down; the government of Governor Yahaya Bello then decided that the only way to tackle this was to do total civil service verification.
“In the process, we found out that the state had plenty issues; about 83,000 personnel were withdrawing salaries from the state and this is a state that is barely 25 years old.

Nasarawa
Nasarawa State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has donated educational materials worth N9 million to primary schools in the state.
Among the items shared out to head teachers of the schools in Lafia last Thursday were 5,500 copies of registers, 2,400 lesson note books, dusters and dossiers.
Its chairman, Mr Francis Jatau, who supervised the exercise, said that it was the second time the union was distributing educational materials to the schools.
He said that the union supplied the items after complaining severally to the government without any positive response.
“We do not have money but had to do this so that system will not degenerate further,” he said.
He said that the gesture was to complement government efforts.

Ogun
The Ogun State Government has announced the retirement of the General Managers of the State Television (OGTV), Mr Dele Bolujoko and State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC), Mr Tunde Awolana.
The government last Wednesday advised the affected managers to proceed on compulsory retirement from the public service.
The Head of Service, Abayomi Sobande, said in a statement in Abeokuta that Governor Ibikunle Amosun, had accepted the notices of voluntary retirement of the affected General Managers.
Sobande said the retirement of the general managers took immediate effect.
“On behalf of the Governor of Ogun State, I wish to seize this opportunity to appreciate the contributions of these General Managers to the development of the state and wish them success in their future endeavours”, he noted.

Osun
A 37-year-old man, Mukaila Shamotu, was last Thursday, arraigned in an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing food items valued at N109,000.
Shamotu of no fixed address is facing a two-count charge of burglary and theft.
The prosecutor, Insp. Rasak Olaiwola, told the court that the accused committed the offences between May 8 and May 9 at Ota-Efun area in Osun.
Olaiwola said Shamotu broke into the shop of Oyekan Funke and stole some food items: bag of rice, bag of beans, 25 litres of groundnut oil, and 25 litres of red oil among others, worth N109, 000.
Olaiwola said the offences contravened Sections 413 and 383 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol.11, Laws of Osun, 2003.

Sokoto
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has called on All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled States to key into Federal Government’s programmes and replicate its achievements in their domains.
He made the call at the opening of the Second Quarterly Meeting of Secretaries of State Governments (SSGs) controlled by APC in Sokoto on Thursday.
Tambuwal said that keying into Federal Government’s activities would ensure rapid socio-economic development of the nation.
“Almost two years after coming to power, the Federal Government has recorded significant achievements, especially in the areas of security, job creation, agriculture, education, youth empowerment among others.
“ Now that the nation is at a crossroad, it becomes imperative for all APC member-states to ensure that a worthy turning-point is propelled.

Zamfara
The Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON), Zamfara State chapter, has welcomed the peace talks with armed bandits initiated by the state government to address security challenges in the state.
The association made the commendation in a statement signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Bello Dankande, and made available to newsmen in Gusau, on Wednesday.
“The peace talks initiated by the state government has yielded positive results as thousands of the bandits have surrendered their weapons and denounced their criminal acts.
“This has also returned peace to all communities throughout the state and our people are now returning to their normal lives, “ Dankande said.
He said many markets which were closed as a result of activities of the bandits were now being reopened as the displaced members of affected communities were returning home.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

2 days 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 days 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

2 days 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.