Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

June 19, 2017

Abuja
Motor Mechanic and Technicians Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN) has advised the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward globalisation by implementing relevant policies.
Globalisation is the free movement of goods, capital, services, people, technology and information.
It is the process by which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected as a result of massively increased trade and cultural exchange.
MOMTAN’s National President, Dr Oseni Suleiman, made the call during an interview with newsmen in Abuja in Abuja.
According to him, unbiased domestic policies can unleash the full force of agglomeration economies and giving rise to industrial clusters to emerge in metropolitan regions.

Jigawa
Executive Secretary, Jigawa Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Sani Babura, says the state government has disbursed N2.26 million to victims of Marmara farmers/herdsmen clash in Guri Local Government Area.
Babura made this known in an interview with newsmen in Dutse recently.
He said the amount was given to 60 people who lost their farm products and personal items as a result of the clash.
The SEMA boss stated that one person died, while houses and property worth millions of naira were destroyed during the incident.
Babura expressed sadness over the persistent clashes between farmers and herdsmen at Guri Local Government Area and some parts of the state.

Kaduna
A Consultant Haematologist at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Prof. Haruna Muktar, has urged the National Assembly to quickly pass the National Blood Transfusion Bill currently before it.
The consultant made the appeal in an interview with newsmen after a rally to commemorate World Blood Donor Day held at the main campus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State last Wednesday.
Muktar said, when passed, the law would guide the operations of blood transfusion services in Nigeria, thereby, saving the lives of millions of Nigerians requiring blood transfusion.
The consultant said the essence of the rally was to celebrate the day and encourage people to donate blood.

Kano
The Kano State Government has fed over 930,000 fasting Muslims, from first day of the month of Ramadan to date.
The Chairman of the Committee on Ramadan Feeding and Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the Government House, Kano recently.
He said that 250 people each from 186 centres across the state received food daily to break their fast.
“Feeding 250 people from each of the 186 centres will give their numbers to 46,500 daily, and if multiplied by 30 days of the month of Ramadan, the number rises to over 1.395 million people,” he said.
Garba also commended the state Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje for sustaining the yearly Ramadan feeding, despite the present paucity of fund.

Kebbi
Rice farmers and paddy rice dealers in Kebbi State have appealed to the government at all levels to tackle the menace of rice smuggling, saying, it is negatively affecting their businesses.
Some of the traders in Zuru paddy rice market told newsmen last Friday in Zuru that rice smuggling would hamper the country’s efforts to attain self-sufficiency in rice production.
A paddy rice seller in Zuru from Kano State, Malam Hashimu Salisu, who commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to boost agricultural production, said that rice smuggling was discouraging both rice farmers and traders.
“Before now, we were selling a 80kg bag of paddy for between N6,000 and N7,000 but now, it goes for between N9,500 and N12, 000.

Kwara
Some irate youths last Tuesday disrupted activities at the secretariat of Baruten Local Government Council of Kwara State over the composition of its new Transitional Implementation Committee (TIC).
The youths, who were mainly from Kosubosu, the council’s headquarters, had marched to the secretariat and chased away workers before locking up offices.
The Tide reports that the youths also lit a bonfire on the express way leading to the border with Benin Republic.
We learnt that the youths were dissatisfied with the reported substitution of one Umar Galadima who was in May appointed as a members of the TIC.

Lagos
A tenant, Patrick Ezenwa, 47, last Friday appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly damaging his landlord’s property worth N350,000 after being told to quit.
The accused, who resides at Shomide Street, Agege, Ikeja, is facing a charge of wilful damage to property.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Rosemary Ehemegbe, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 18 at the residence.
She said that the accused intentionally damaged the doors, windows, toilet and bathroom before moving out of the house.
Ehemegbe said that the landlord, one Destiny Emeka, who is the complainant, had asked the accused to move out because he refused to pay rent for a whole year.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) alleged recently that Principals of two secondary schools had diverted NECO fees paid by students.
Its Commandant, Lawan Bashir, told newsmen in Lafia that students of the affected schools – Government Secondary School (GSS) Wakama and GSS Shekkina – did not realise that their fees had been diverted until the examination started.
“It was after the examination started that the candidates knew that they had not been registered.
“Their parents promptly reported the diversion to the Area Inspectorate Offices of Education in the affected locations, who brought the matter to us,” he said.

Ogun
A 21-year-old man, Adeleke Tunde State, was last Friday charged before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun for allegedly breaking into a house and attempted to steal.
Tunde, who lives at No. 26, Damola St., Atan, Ota, is facing a two-count of burglary and attempting to steal.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Chudu Gbesi, told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 7, at about 4.50 p.m. at Akari Estate, Atan, Ota.
Gbesi said that the accused was caught by residents in the area breaking into the house of one Funke Oyeneye, with the intention to steal.

Ondo
An Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, last Friday ordered the remand of two men for allegedly stealing an unregistered Hajoue Suzuki motorcycle valued at N200, 000.
The defendants- Segun Akintudire, 22, a radio mechanic, and Kehinde Olufemi, 26, a welder are of no fixed addresses, denied committing the offence.
They were docked on a two-count charge of felony and stealing.
The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison and adjourned the matter until June 23, for hearing of their bail application.
A tailor, Monsuru Sabitu, 26, who bought the motorcycle from the two defendants was also arraigned in court.
Sabitu pleaded not guilty to the charge of receiving a stolen item, and was granted N200, 000 bail, with a surety in like sum.

Plateau
A Jos Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday sentenced a 73-year-old man, Gabriel Kehen to two years imprisonment for attempting to rape an eight-year-old boy.
Kehen was charged with attempting to have canal knowledge of the boy through an unnatural means.
Magistrate Yahaya Mohammed, who sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty and begged for leniency, did not give him an option of fine.
The Presecutor, U.L. Ocho, had told the court that the incident occurred on April 26.
Ocho said Angela Bakun of Tudunwada reported that the septuagenarian lured her grandson, into his house to rape him.

Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government, has released N422 million for the payment of tuition fees of its indigenes, studying at some local and foreign institutions.
This information is contained in a statement signed by the Information Officer, Nura Maikwanci, Ministry of Higher Education and issued to newsmen in Sokoto last Friday.
It said that students at Baze University, Abuja, got N118 million while N257 million was paid for the 2015/2016 academic session to students studying in various institutions in Sudan.
In the same vein, the statement said N47 million was paid as tuition and upkeep allowance for students studying in Uganda.
According to the statement, the gesture is in view of the State Government’s commitment to encourage the state indigenes to pursue higher education in various fields within and outside Nigeria.
“It is imperative for the benefiting students to concentrate more on their studies; to justify the huge resources being expended on them by the government”.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

16 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

16 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

16 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.