Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

May 17, 2017

Adamawa
The Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) says over 2,000 Internally Displaced children were enrolled into Safe School initiative programme in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr Haruna Furo, told newsmen in Yola last Sunday that the initiative was part of the Federal Government’s special education package for IDPs children nationwide.
He said many displaced children were sent to various Unity Colleges across the country under an exchange school Programme.
Furo said there were four ongoing categories of education programmes for IDPs children in the state.

Ekiti
An Ado-Ekiti High Court last Wednesday sentenced a local government worker, Ojo Ayodele, to life imprisonment for abducting and raping a 15-year-old girl.
A report says that Ayodele abducted the minor in Ijero-Ekiti and took her to a secret location in the town where he subjected her to continuous sexual assault for 21 days.
Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde, in her judgment, found Ayodele guilty as charged and sentenced the accused to life jail.
The judge, who also found Ayodele guilty of abduction, sentenced him to seven years for the offence.
The jail terms are, however, to run concurrently.

FCT
The police last Thursday arraigned Prince Eze in a Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, charged with duping his fiancee of N150,000.
The defendant, of Jikwoyi, Abuja, is facing a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The prosecutor, Joshua Ayanna, told the court that the matter was reported by Joyce Ohamsi of Area 1, Garki, Abuja, at the Apo Police Station on March 10.
He said the plaintiff bought a plot of land worth N350,000 owned by Shepherd House Church in Karshi village, Abuja in November 2012.

Katsina
The Border Community Development Agency (BCDA) has handed over a Veterinary Clinic worth N25 million it constructed at Hui community of Baure Local Government Area of Katsina State.
An official of the agency Mrs Atarhe Akpohwaye-Abu,who handed over the facility to the officials of Katsina State Government on Wednesday, said the project was part of the efforts of the agency to bring development to rural communities.
Akpohwaye-Abu said the project was strategically located especially considering the fact that the area was predominantly an animal rearing community.
She said the clinic would immensely promote livestock production as well as consumption of hygienic meat in the area.
She further said, the agency considered Katsina State very important and strategic due to the large international boarder markets and economic activities in the area.

Kwara
The Lions Club International said last Wednesday that it had spent $1 billion globally on humanitarian services in the 100 years of its existence.
An International Director of the club, Mr Kumar Raju, disclosed this at a news briefing in Ilorin to herald its 12th Multiple District Convention in Nigeria.
Raju noted that Africa took the larger part of the club’s grant for humanitarian services.
According to him, about $50 million grant is donated annually by members of the club across the world to pursue various projects.
He explained that aside meeting humanitarian needs, the club had also assisted in the area of disaster relief, saving sight and serving the youths.

Lagos
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, said it had arrested 120 suspected pipelines vandals in the state between January and May 2017.
The State Commandant, Mr Tajundeen Balogun, made this disclosure on Monday, in Lagos, while receiving the Head of Lagos Editorial, Mr Mike Mbonye, who paid him a visit.
Balogun said that the suspects were arrested in different parts of the state, particularly in Ikorodu and Badagry, noting that the suspects had been sabotaging the nation’s economy.
“Ikorodu axis has been very challenging for us due to the type of terrain.
“So sad, that almost all security agencies have lost their men in Ikorodu; we have equally lost five men in the area.

Nasarawa
Pathfinder International Nigeria and Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH), NGOs, have said that only 171 out of 808 public health facilities were providing Family Planning (FP) services in Nasarawa State.
Pathfinder Consultant, Dr Yemi Osanyin, made this known last Wednesday in Lafia during a one-day dissemination of the findings of Family Planning Situation Analysis in the state, organised by the group in collaboration with the state government.
He explained that the aim of the workshop was to present a draft report on the FP situation in the state with the view of encouraging women and girls to embrace FP programmes, considering its enormous benefits.

Ogun
Police in Ogun State have arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly killing his 27-year-old roommate, Friday Michael.
The police spokesman in Ogun State, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, said in a statement that the incident happened last Friday at Mamu area of Awa-Ijebu.
“The suspect came in around 6.30 a.m. and shot the deceased, who was sleeping, with a locally-made pistol.
“The sound from the gun attracted other occupants of the house to the scene and they quickly alerted the police.
“The DPO of Awa-Ijebu Division led his men to the scene and the suspect was promptly arrested,’’ said the police spokesman.Oyo

Osun
A 30-year-old man, Olajide Adeshina, was last Thursday sentenced to seven years imprisonment by an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for burglary.
Adeshina was convicted of the three charges of burglary, theft and fraud brought against him.
The convict, who pleaded guilty, had no legal representation.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Fatimoh Sodamade, did not give Adeshina any option of fine.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Fagboyinbo Abiodun, had earlier told the court that the convict committed the offence on October 19, 2016 at about 12:00a.m at Ofatedo area in Osogbo.

Oyo
The Elders Consultative Forum for Shariah in Nigeria, Oyo State branch, last Sunday, distributed more than N2 million Zakat (obligatory charity in Islam) to 122 indigent persons in Ibadan.
Zakat is one of the five obligatory pillars of Islam and it is an annual deduction from every wealthy Muslims’ income, assets, savings or farm produce.
The Chairman of the forum, Alhaji Lasun Sanusi, said in Ibadan after the distribution that the intention was not only to empower the jobless, poor or ailing Muslims, but to enhance the holistic development of Muslims in the state.
Sanusi added that the money distributed would go a long way in alleviating the suffering of the beneficiaries.
He explained that the distribution of Zakat by the forum started five years ago and since then, different items and cash were given to the needy annually.

Plateau
The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, says speeding accounts for 60 per cent of road crashes recorded in the country.
Oyeyemi said this last Sunday at a thanksgiving service to mark the 4th United Nations Global Road Safety Week at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Gigiriing, Jos, Plateau.
The global event has “Managing Speed” as its theme.
Oyeyemi represented by the Zonal Commanding Officer, Jos zone, Mr Oludare Fadogba, said speeding remains the most prevalent cause of road crashes in Nigeria and across the globe.
“Speeding is one of the most prevalent causes of road collision and attendant fatalities in Nigeria and even globally.
“The risk of crashes occurring is greater as speeding gets higher.
“Statistics show that speeding and the involvement of commercial vehicles consistently accounts for about 60 per cent of road traffic crashes in Nigeria.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

18 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

18 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

18 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.