Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

June 1, 2011

Bauchi

A cross section of Bauchi residents have advised Governor Isa Yuguda to ensure the completion of all ongoing projects he initiated.

The residents, in separate interviews with newsmen in Bauchi on Monday, advised the governor to appoint credible persons into various positions during his second term.

Alhaji Sufiyanu Maisalati, the Chairman, Justice Party, urged the governor to ensure the monitoring and supervision of ongoing projects.

Maisalati, who is also the Leader of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in the state, urged Yuguda to sanction erring officials and adhere to laid down procedures in project execution.

Also speaking, Alhaji Abubakar Musa, the Secretary-General of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Bauchi State chapter, advised the governor to select credible people and those with experience as members of his cabinet.

Borno

The Police in Borno State said on Monday that it had received information about an impending attack by some suspected Boko Haram members in the state.

A statement signed by the Police spokesman, Malam Lawal Abdullahi, in Maiduguri said:“We wish to inform the public that we have received an intelligence report on possible attacks.

“Some fundamentalists have decided to launch an attack on the good people of Borno State.

“The group and other social miscreants have decided to team up with some politicians to terrorise the good people of the state, using the leadership of a dangerous sect from neighbouring Yobe State.’’

The statement added that the Police Command had already mapped out strategies to counter the attacks.

“The command has set modalities and mechanisms in motion to track down these miscreants for immediate arrest and prosecution,’’ the statement added.

Ekiti

Medical practitioners in Ekiti are set to begin routine treatment of common ailments in rural communities free of charge.

Dr Abiola Omodan, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Ado-Ekiti, disclosed this on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti at the maiden edition of the association’s annual lecture titled “Medical Ethics in the Face of Emerging Medical Legal Issues in Nigeria’’.

Omodan said that the initiative was aimed at complementing government’s efforts toward providing adequate healthcare for the people.

He explained that one of the objectives of the association was to promote improved healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The guest lecturer, Chef Afe Babalola (SAN), called for public private participation in the management of the nation’s health scheme.

FCT

Bilateral ties between Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago are to be strengthened in the area of children and maternal health following talks between the First Ladies of the two nations.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, gave this indication on Monday in Abuja when she received in audience the First Lady of Trinidad and Tobago, Mrs Jean Ramjohn-Richards.

Jonathan said the passion shared by both countries in the area of care for women, children and the indigent would enable them to explore several areas of mutual benefit.

“I believe your coming will afford us an opportunity to explore mutual areas of interest as we both have passion for the welfare of women, children and the less privileged in the society.

Jigawa

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa has called for concerted efforts between Nigeria and Niger to tackle border security challenges.

Lamido made the call when he received the governor of Danmagaram, Alhaji Umar Isiyaka, and that of Maradi, Alhaji Ahmed Sidi in Niger Republic, who paid him a courtesy visit on Monday in Dutse.

The two governors were in the state to grace his inauguration ceremony for the second term.

Lamido stressed the need for the governors of states that share borders to address the security challenges in the border towns.

Kaduna

Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State has reiterated his administration’s determination to provide basic amenities to the people as soon as possible.

He made the promise in Kaduna while inspecting the ongoing Malali water project in the metropolis.

Yakowa, who was conducted round the project by its Manager, Malam Kabiru Ahmed, directed the management to furnish his office with details of the project and the level of its performance in water supply to consumers in the metropolis.

He directed the management to supply detailed information of its daily supply coverage and the challenges it faces for immediate attention.

Ahmed had earlier told Yakowa that the water supply was constrained by inadequate power supply, adding that the water works currently supplies only 50 per cent of its installed capacity.

Lagos

An NGO, the International Human Rights Watch has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take immediate steps to address the issue of violence in some parts of the country.

A statement signed by Mr Eric Guttschuss, the group’s Researcher on Nigeria, stated that the organisation was worried about the many violent happenings in the country.

In the statement, on Monday in Lagos, the group also urged the President to address some human rights problems in the country as well as the “endemic” corruption.

“Post-presidential-election riots and sectarian killings in April left more than 800 people dead in northern Nigeria, while inter-communal, political and sectarian violence have claimed more than 15,700 lives since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.

“The ruling elite squandered and siphoned the nation’s tremendous oil revenues, while neglecting basic health and education services for the vast majority of ordinary citizens.

Niger

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has promised to review the salaries of traditional rulers to boost their morale.

Aliyu gave the assurance in Minna while receiving the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers.

According to him, the traditional rulers deserve an enhanced salary package.

Aliyu said the government had set up a committee to look into the demand for the upward review of the salaries for traditional rulers, including the district and village heads.

The governor noted the important role traditional rulers played in governance.

“The people trust the traditional rulers more than politicians. Even if we give directives, the people go for validation by them,” he said.

Aliyu said that government would strengthen the traditional institutions so that the government could benefit from their influence in implementing policies and programmes.

Plateau

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) says it requires at least N70 billion to fix the nation’s roads.

Mr Ifeanyi Nweke, FERMA Maintenance Engineer in Plateau, told newsmen in Jos on Monday that the nation’s roads were in bad state and required urgent attention.

“There is so much work to be done, but the funds are lacking,’’ Nweke said, adding that the N70 billion figure was arrived at after a careful study.

He said that the agency was working hard to ascertain the causes of the failure of the roads so as to minimise the incidence.

“Preliminary findings blame the situation on the quantum of loads that ply the roads on a daily basis. “Our roads are constructed to carry loads not above 42 tonnes, but the failure of our rail system has given us no other option,’’ he said.

Other factors responsible for the sad state of the roads, he said, included the fact that the roads were constructed a long time ago.

Sokoto

Sokoto government has trained more than 30,000 youths in various vocational trades in the past three years, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, the Commissioner for Youths, Social Welfare and Sports has said.

Aliyu disclosed this in Sokoto on Sunday at an occasion to commemorate Governor Aliyu Wamakko’s three years in office.

He said that some of the youths were now gainfully employed, while others, who are now self-reliant, had become employers of labour.

Aliyu said the 30,000 youths were trained in various vocations, including ICT, agriculture and other skills.

In addition, he said the youths were given working tools and take-off grants free on graduation, to assist them in establishing their own businesses.

“The youths should, however, reciprocate this noble gesture by being law abiding and patriotic because without peace, there will be no meaningful socio-economic development,’’ he said.

Zamfara

The Zurmi Emirate Council in Zamfara state has announced the withdrawal of traditional titles from six eminent members.

A statement by the Secretary of the council, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, listed Col Bala Mande (rtd), a former military Governor of Nassarawa State and one time Minister of Environment, among the personalities affected.

Mande, who contested for the Governorship position under the PDP in 1999 but lost to Ahmad Sani Yarima, was the state coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign.

Until the development, Mande held the title of Chiroman Zurmi, a title traditionally reserved for heirs to the throne.

Other prominent personalities affected included Alhaji Aliyu Na-Allah, the Chairman of the state Civil Service Commission, who held the title of Walin Zurmi and hitherto Baraden Zurmi; Alhaji Isyaku Mohammed, the immediate past Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

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.