Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

July 27, 2012

Benue

The Speaker, Benue House of Assembly, Mr David Iorhemba, has called on Muslims in the state to use the period of Ramadan to pray for peace and security of the state.

Iorhemba made the call on Tuesday in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yakubu Imanche, in Makurdi.

He said that there was the need for Muslims to pray for peace because they were in a state of grace in which anything they requested from God would be answered.

The speaker also urged them to sustain the long-existing peaceful and cordial relationship with their Christian counterpart in the state.

Iorhemba enjoined the Muslims to imbibe the teachings and lessons of the period such as self-discipline, kindness and sacrifice so as to attract blessings from God.

Gombe

Students of the Gombe State University on Tuesday

staged a peaceful protest against an alleged plan to remove the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdullahi Mahdi.

The students gathered at the school’s premises at around 4 p.m., chanting songs in support of Mahdi.

The President of the Gombe State Student Union, Malam Abubakar Kalafi, said that Mahdi had instilled discipline in both staff and students of the institution.

Kalosi said the vice chancellor had created a conducive atmosphere for learning in the university, adding that the peaceful coexistence in the university was a testimony of his leadership qualities.

The students alleged that a prominent member of the University’s Governing Council was spear-heading the planned removal of the vice chancellor.

Mahdi was appointed vice chancellor of the institution about eight years ago.

Jigawa

The Jigawa government has awarded N22 million contract for the construction of ultra-modern archive and gallery.

The Director, History and Culture Bureau, Alhaji Dan-Iya Uba, said in Dutse on Tuesday, that more than N18 million was earmarked for the construction of the archive while N4 million was set aside for the rehabilitation of its theatre.

He said adequate provisions were made in the 2012 budget to facilitate smooth running of the project.

“The archive will serve as library, documentation and research centre to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the people of the state. “The renovation of the theatre will also enable the cultural troop and dancers from the state to rehearse and organise plays,” he said.

He added that the state government had concluded arrangement to construct a central gallery to enable all the five emirates present their heritage.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government on Tuesday further relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state from midnight to 5a.m.

Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, who announced this during a meeting with the Committee on Inter-Religious Harmony, said this following improved security situation in the state.

Yakowa said the curfew was reviewed to allow free movement throughout the state, adding that the security operatives would continue with their work.

He commended the people for the sustenance of peace and further urged them to continue to cooperate with the security agents and be law-abiding.

The governor also urged them to use the period of Ramadan to pray for peace and progress in the country.

Katsina

Workers of three tertiary institutions in Katsina State

on Monday embarked on an indefinite strike to protest alleged failure of the state government to meet their demands.

The institutions are: Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Isah Kaita College of Education, Dutsinma and Yusuf Bala Usman College of Legal and General Studies, Daura.

The Joint Consultative Forum (JCF) of the workers unions in a statement issued in Katsina said members of the Academic and the Non academic Staff Unions of the three institutions had joined the industrial action.

The statement was signed by Mallam Tukur Dahiru, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic (ASUP) and five others.

Kwara

The Chairman of the Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara, Alhaji Abubakar Sidiq, has appealed to the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Kaiama-Kishi road.

He said that the road, which links communities in Kwara and Oyo states, would contribute significantly to the economic development of the area.

Sidiq, who made the call in Kaiama in an interview described the present state of the road as deplorable, saying “it is now a death trap”. He said commuters using the road had to contend with potholes and difficult terrain “which usually make plying the road a nightmare”.

Lagos

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Rotimi Olowo, said the House would soon pass a bill that would ensure proper and regular maintenance of public infrastructure in the state.

Olowo told newsmen in Ikeja that the House was working on a Facilities and Maintenance Bill that would ensure scheduled maintenance and rehabilitation of roads and other public infrastructure, as and when due.

Olowo, the chairman of House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, said that the bill became necessary to improve the functionality and life span of the facilities.”If we don’t put in place a maintenance schedule, these public infrastructure would collapse in no time,” he said in Lagos.

He advised Lagos residents to desist from throwing refuse into gutters to avoid blocking the drainage system and prevent flooding.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Government has expressed its determination to promote cassava production in the state to stem hunger and lessen import dependency.

Governor Umaru Al-Makura said this on Tuesday in Lafia at the inauguration of the Growth Enhancement Scheme for cassava farmers in the state.

Al-Makura, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani-Usman, said that his administration would make the cassava value chain development a priority, to encourage increased productivity among farmers in the state.

He also pledged the government’s commitment to providing farmers with the necessary agricultural input to enhance their productivity.

Ondo

The Ondo State House of Assembly on Tuesday asked the state government to tackle the encroachment on land belonging to public schools.

The Assembly gave the directive in Akure during its plenary which followed a motion by Mr Olatunji Dairo of Owo II Constituency.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Dare Emiola, who presided over the session, directed the House Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the Committee on Education to convene a meeting with principals of public schools to stop the practice.

Osun

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has called on stakeholders in the education sector to embrace the culture of endowment as a means of funding universities.

Fayemi made the call on Monday at the second convocation lecture of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, entitled: “Repositioning the Nigerian Universities within a Dynamic Global University System; Changes and Prospects.”

The convocation programme, which began with a press conference on Wednesday, is expected to end with the award of degrees today. Fayemi said universities should also explore scholarly resources, particularly books and journals, to promote scholarship.

He lamented the state of libraries in Nigerian universities, saying the situation had constituted one of the biggest impediments to the flowering of ideas and development of world-class scholarship.

The governor also advised universities to source for foreign partners that would help in facilitating access to online publications, particularly journals for scholars and students.

Plateau

The Plateau Government has commiserated with the families and surviving victims of Sunday’s devastating flood in some communities within the Jos metropolis.

The Commissioner for Information, in a press statement on Tuesday in Jos, described the flood as Pastor Abraham Yiljap, “devastating, painful and unfortunate’’.

He recalled with regret that the flood resulted in the death of persons and missing of many others. “Government is saddened by this unexpected natural phenomenon which has brought grief to the people in its wake, “ he said.

Yiljap said that the Governor Jonah Jang had ordered the State Relief Committee to take steps in providing immediate relief for the surviving victims.

He added that the governor had urged all citizens of the state to pray against any situation that would bring further pain and discomfort on the people.

Our correspondent recalls that the flood killed 16 persons and left several others missing with houses and other property worth millions of naira destroyed in its trail.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, on Tuesday said that the State Government had spent N50 million to purchase drugs and medical facilities for its General Hospitals.

Aliyu said the measure was part of the State Government’s commitment to provision of qualitative health care services to the people.

He said the state drug revolving scheme would continue to be accorded priority attention to ensure effective health care delivery in the state.

The commissioner said a committee that would ensure equitable distribution of the drugs and medical facilities had been set up.

The commissioner urged the people of the state to always keep their environment clean to prevent outbreak of diseases.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

3 days 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.