Nation

THE NATION

Published

16 years ago

July 23, 2010

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government has concluded plans to construct six new hospitals in the state to further boost its healthcare services.

Governor Isa Yuguda, dropped the hint in Bauchi, while receiving a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Linus Aleachi.

Yuguda said that the proposed hospitals were in addition to the existing 23 hospitals in the state, which were fully-equipped with modern facilities.

He urged the Federal Ministry of Health to establish a kidney transplant unit in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi considering the high number of patients with kidney-related diseases.

Ekiti

Yam farmers in Irasa-Ekiti, have said that agricultural subsidy would boost yam production and ensure the attainment for food security in the country.

Speaking with newsmen in Irasa-Ekiti, a suburb of Ado-Ekiti, the leader of the Irasa-Ekiti Yam Farmers Association, Alhaji Jimoh Audu, urged the state government to provide farmers with fertiliser, agro-chemicals and tools at subsidised rate.

According to him, members of the association are the first to harvest yam between June and August annually across the country.

He also called on the government to provide access roads to farms as well as means of transportation of agricultural produce.

FCT

The Ministries of Agriculture and Science and Technology should create the necessary awareness for greater cultivation of ‘acha’, a medicinal crop.

Mrs Funke Odeyemi, a Senior Technologist, with the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), made the call while speaking with newsmen at Kwali, FCT.

Odeyemi described ‘acha’ as a medicinal cereal crop recommended for diabetics because of its low glucose content.

She, therefore, urged the government and agricultural extension workers to create greater awareness about the crop among farmers.

According to her, the crop is currently cultivated only in Plateau state as farmers in other parts of the country are not aware of its economic importance.

Gombe

Malam Mohammed Suleiman, a sales officer with the Gombe Ministry of Agriculture, has been dragged before the Gombe State Fertiliser Distribution Monitoring Committee for allegedly diverting 300 bags of fertiliser.

The fertlisers were said to be meant for farmers in Gombe local government area.

The Councillor representing Bolari West Ward in Gombe, Malam Kabir Sakuwa, told the committee members at the Gombe Council Secretariat that the officer illegally diverted the fertiliser and sold same in the open market.

The sales officer confirmed diverting the fertiliser and selling same, but insisted that he did so because his own share was not included in the consignment being distributed.

Jigawa

Senator Ahmed Zakari, the Chairman of the Movement for the Creation of Hadejia State from Jigawa State, says the creation of the proposed state is long overdue.

Zakari said in an interview with newsmen in Dutse on Tuesday, that the agitation for the new state from old Kano State started in 1982.

He said the people made their submission to the National Assembly and the state was shortlisted before the military take-over of government in 1983.

Zakari said the people renewed their demand in 1991 but the military government at the time instead created Jigawa.

Kano

Prof. Ibrahim Garba, the Vice-Chancellor of the Kano State University of Science and Technology(KUST), Wudil, Kano State, has warned students of the institution against drug abuse.

Garba gave the warning on Tuesday, in Wudil at the opening ceremony of a workshop on “Substance Abuse”, organised by the Students’ Affairs Department of the institution.

He said, “The university is an arena for academic activities and will not tolerate drug abuse and other vices among students.”

The vice-chancellor also called for collaboration among parents, teachers and other stakeholders to fight drug abuse and other vices “in order to attain a better society”.

Katsina

The Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has advised intending Muslim pilgrims who partly paid their Hajj (pilgrimage) fares to complete the payment before July 28 or risk losing their seats.

In a statement, the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Ibrahim Ango, in Katsina on Tuesday said

the advice was necessary to enable the agency to remit the money to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Ango explained that the advice followed the recent announcement of the Hajj fares, adding that completing the payment would enable the agency to begin necessary preparations for the pilgrimage.

Kebbi

The Kebbi State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has appealed to the state government to immediately pay the 12.5 per cent pay hike due to teachers in the state.

The NUT Chairman in Kebbi, Mr Danlami Riba, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.

Riba said that the pay hike was approved by the state government since last year, but was not implemented.

He said, “Teachers have been expecting the pay hike since then and hope that payment will now be made with the arrears.’’

The NUT chairman said that the government had implemented the 27.5 per cent pay hike for qualified teachers.

Riba commended the Kebbi Government for the priority it gave to the education sector.

Kwara

The Kwara State Government has said that it will curb the menace created of Nigerian beggars on the streets of Ilorin, the state capital.

The State Commissioner for Social Development, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Dele, said this in Ilorin on Monday, in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.

He said the government had opened discussions with the officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on how to tackle the problem.

The Commissioner gave assurance that the government would enforce the law which makes street begging illegal to tackle the problem.

Niger

Governor Muazu Babangida State of Niger has urged his colleagues to invest in human capital and not on themselves as a way of securing the future generation.

He stated this in Minna at the 1st State Level dialogue and Policy Sensitisation Workshop organised by the Nigeria Governors‘ Forum (NGF) and the UNDP.

Babangida spoke while addressing his colleagues on their part in sustainable development, poverty reduction and achievement of MDGs in the country.

He said that unless his colleagues learnt to draw a line between party politics and governance, achieving sustainable development and the MDGs would remain a mirage.

He noted that some governors used fund budgeted for social development projects to service their party stalwart and political godfathers.

Ogun

An Ogun-based lawyer, Dr Oloruntoba Mamora, has advocated life jail for any convicted kidnapper.

Mamora told newsmen in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun that the punishment would likely reduce kidnappings and assassinations in the country.

He said that the issue of kidnapping had assumed a new dimension and that it needed urgent attention from the government.

Osun

The Osun State Government says it will set up an education task force that will maintain high standards in public and private schools in the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr Fatai Kola-Hassan, disclosed the plan on Tuesday, in Osogbo, at a meeting with the executive members of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Osun chapter.

He said the task force would take appropriate actions on those operating illegal private schools and put an end to difficulties encountered in obtaining licences to operate private schools.

He called on NAPPS executives to submit names of illegal private schools in the state to the ministry for appropriate sanctions.

Plateau

The people of Plateau State have began one month period of prayer and fasting to seek God’s intervention in the crisis that has engulfed the state in recent times, a statement said.

The programme was announced by Governor Jonah Jang, the statement, issued by Mr James Manok, the Director of Press Affairs, in Jos, said.

The decision by the government followed a fresh attack on Maza, a village in Jos North local government area, on Saturday.

Seven people were killed and 10 others injured in the attack, which took place at 10p.m., while a church and many other houses were burnt in the incident.

Zamfara

The Zamfara State Government has re-awarded the contract for the international cargo airport in Gusau at the cost of N10 billion, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, said.

Aliyu made this known in Gusau while conducting engineers from Sigma Construction, the firm handling the project, on a site inspection.

He said that in spite of the financial difficulties, the government attached high priority to the project because of its economic importance and promised that it would be completed on time.

He urged the construction firm to ensure that the government got value for its money, adding that the government would ensure steady funding for the project to enable the contractors to finish the job on time.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

4 weeks 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 weeks 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 weeks 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.