Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

November 21, 2011

Adamawa

The Adamawa State Government has announced the arrest of an employee in its Ministry of Education who has been fraudulently collecting a monthly salary of N6 million.

The Head of Service, Alhaji Othman Mohammed, who made the announcement while inaugurating the audit committees for the local government staff, said the fraud was discovered before the recent introduction of e-payment for the workers.

He challenged members of the committees to do a thorough job, particularly in ascertaining whether workers were properly paid the salaries due to them.

“You need to verify that a worker placed on level six or seven is not receiving something higher than his director.

Bauchi

Ningi Community in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, has petitioned against some officials of the state government over alleged diversion of vehicles donated to it by the Canadian Government.

The community alleged that the vehicles were donated to the community for health care projects, claiming that they were diverted for personal use by the officials.

The petition, last Wednesday, was addressed to the state government and copied to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba.

The vehicles allegedly diverted were three Toyota Hilux vans, which the Canadian Government donated to the community during the administration of Governor Adamu Muazu.

Borno

The first batch of 500 pilgrims from Borno who performed the 2011 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, returned home on Wednesday.

The pilgrims, who looked healthy, arrived at the Maiduguri International Airport with their luggage.

They arrived on board a Kabo Air Boeing 747 aircraft at the early hours of Wednesday.

The pilgrims were mainly from Kala Balge, Gamborou Ngala, Dikwa, Abadam, and Gubio Local Government Areas.

Some of them who spoke to newsmen, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Borno Pilgrims Welfare Board (BSPWB).

They prayed to Allah to accept their supplications during the pilgrimage in the Holy Land.

One of the pilgrims, Fugo Goni, expressed gratitude to Allah for a successful and hitch- free exercise.

FCT

The Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has ordered the management of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to stop posting new corps members to Borno and Yobe States.

A statement by his Senior Assistant on Media, Mr Julius Ogunro, in Abuja quoted the Minister as directing that no new corps members under the current Batch “C“ should be posted to the two states, while those already posted there would be redeployed to Benue and Nasarawa for orientation.

He, however, promised that corps members would be posted to all states of the federation except Borno as soon as they concluded their orientation programme in Benue and Nasarawa respectively.

Kaduna

Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) President Abdulwaheed Omar in Kaduna has called on the Federal Government to urgently resolve the country’s security challenges.

Omar who made the call at the opening of the NLC’s 10th Harmattan School for 2011, expressed concern over government’s laxity in addressing the security problems in the country.

The NLC president also decried the non-implementation of the new minimum wage, which had been signed in July, warning that failure to honour the agreement could provoke a general strike and mass protests.

Omar accused the government of deliberately devaluing Nigeria’s currency in order to devalue the N18,000 national minimum wage.

He added that government’s insistence to hike fuel prices by 120 per cent was capable of worsening the economic plight of the citizenry.

Katsina

The Director of Agriculture in Malumfashi Local Government Council of Katsina State, Alhaji Balarabe Yusuf has cautioned residents of the town against indiscriminate felling of trees for firewood.

Yusuf told newsmen in Malumfashi, Katsina State that there was the need for collective efforts to protect the environment.

He described indiscriminate felling of trees as one of the major human actions detrimental to environmental sustainability.

The director said that through joint efforts between individuals, communities, institutions and organisations, the desired impact of team work to check desert encroachment would be achieved.

Yusuf said that the local government council had engaged 500 youths, on casual basis, to plant 30,000 tree seedlings this year, and called on the communities in the area to protect the trees.

Kebbi

INEC has appealed against the nullification of the election of Governor Saidu Dakingari (PDP) of Kebbi at the Court of Appeal in Sokoto.

Counsel to INEC, Mr Adegboyega Awolomo (SAN), made this known in a statement in Birnin Kebbi.

Our correspondent recalls that the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Sunday nullified Dakingari’s election following a petition by Alhaji Abubakar Mallam (CPC).

INEC holds that the tribunal erred in law by making a case against the commission.

According to the statement, INEC is seeking the setting aside of the judgment or decisions of the tribunal and dismissing the petition as one without merit.

Kwara

The Kwara State Government plans to establish an agency responsible for the formulation and implementation of its local content policy.

News of the plan is contained in a letter entitled: Kwara State Content Developer Agency Bill, 2011, sent to the Kwara State House of Assembly by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in Ilorin on Thursday.

In the letter read by Speaker Rasak Atunwa, the governor said the agency would ensure the utilisation of human and material resources and services available in the state in all contracts involving government or its agencies.

According to him, the agency will boost government’s efforts at human capital development and economic transformation of the state.

He urged the assembly to give the bill early consideration with a view to passing it into law.

Atunwa directed the Clerk of the House to prepare the bill for first reading tomorrow.

Lagos

The Center For Health Education Population and Nutrition (CHEPON) on Tuesday said that the nutritional status of our primary school children was worrisome and had a direct relationship with their cognitive development.

Executive Director of CHEPON Prof. Tola Atinmo said this at the Teachers’ Training Workshop and launch of Healthy Kids Global Programme for primary schools in Lagos State, organised by Nestle Plc.

“It is disheartening to note that many parents do not bother much about what these pupils consume on daily basis once they provide them with money, usually between N10 and N50 daily.

Ogun

Many applicants have besieged the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, to ascertain their employment status.

The applicants who were on November 2 and 3, interviewed by the state’s Civil Service Commission, were asked to return for their employment letters on November 16.

However, some of them who spoke to newsmen on conditions of anonymity, expressed surprise that their names were not out as promised by the commission.

Another applicant, who also spoke anonymously expressed surprise at the inability of applicants to access the commission’s web site.

Sokoto

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has called on Nigerians to continue to live in peace with one another to ensure the smooth implementation of the on going Federal Government reforms.

Wamakko told newsmen in Sokoto last Wednesday that successful implementation of the reforms would ensure the nation’s political growth.

He urged Nigerians to tolerate and understand one another, irrespective of tribe, religion and political differences for peace to reign.

Zamfara

The Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) has disbursed more than N 272 million to 39 communities in Zamfara for the execution of various development projects.

The CSDP General Manager, Alhaji Garba Muhammad stated this last Wednesday in Gusau in an interview with newsmen.

Muhammad said that the projects were executed in the last two years in the areas of education, health care, rural water supply, feeder roads and skills acquisition programmes.

He explained that the communities had contributed 10 per cent of the total cost of the projects in their area, while the World Bank provided 90 per cent of the remaining fund.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

11 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

11 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

11 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.