Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

February 4, 2013

FCT

Nigeria polio population immunity has increased from 50 per cent to 80 per cent. The Executive Secretary of the National Primary Health care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Ado Mohammed, said in an interview at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the latest analysis by the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed the increase in the country’s polio population immunity.

“We shared with the President, the global goal analysis done by WHO which showed that population immunity has increased in Nigeria from about 50 per cent to 80 per cent.

“What this means is that even if the polio virus finds itself in any particular location in the country, it may not be able to paralyse the affected child.

“Even when it paralyzes the child, other children in that particular area will be secured; this is because population immunity has improved,’’ Mohammed said.

He noted that the country had not recorded any case of polio virus in the last two months.

Mohammed said that another survey carried out by WHO adjudged Nigeria to be the next country after India “that will exit as a polio endemic nation’’.

He gave assurance that Jonathan’s promise to eradicate polio from the country by 2015 would be kept, and said that any child below age five coming into Nigeria must be stopped and immunised before being allowed entry.

Katsina

A 60-year-old man, Muhammadu Sani, has been arrested by the NDLEA in Katsina with 167 kilograms of cannabis sativa.

Parading the suspect on Thursday in Katsina, the NDLEA Commandant, Hajiya Maryam Gambo lamented the rate at which aged persons, children and women were being involved in drug abuse and trafficking in the state.

When interviewed by newsmen, the suspect said he had been in the illegal business for four years.

Sani said that he transported the items from the southern parts of the country to Katsina, where he was arrested by the operatives of NDLEA.

The command also arrested one Tasiu Salisu, 35, with 40 kilograms of cannabis sativa tucked inside a Television set.

Salisu confessed that he wanted to deceive NDLEA and other security agents by hiding the substance in the TV set.

Kebbi

The Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi State bought 3,500 water pumping machines for distribution to dry season farmers to boost food production.

The council Chairman, Alhaji Sahabi Danbaba said in Suru on Thursday that the machines would be distributed free of charge to deserving farmers, noting that the council’s Department of Agriculture had been mandated to ensure equitable distribution of the machines.

The chairman said that the council had also prepared 2,000 hectares of cultivable land for dry season farming, and declared that the council had cleared the land to promote agriculture beyond subsistence level as well as generate employment and improve the economic well-being of farmers.

The chairman said the council would work out the modalities for farmers to benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agriculture loan.

“Most of our farmers are not conversant with the loan procedure and we will encourage improvement in agricultural production,’’ he said

Kogi

The Kogi Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, says agriculture is the major fulcrum that will drive the industrial development of the state.

Awoniyi stated this at the presentation and commissioning of 10 tractors purchased by the government for rice farmers as part of its flood recovery programme.

He said that the government was resolute to tap into the Federal Government’s agenda for rice farming, adding that 10,000 hectares of land had been cleared for rice farming while another for cassava.

He stated that the Korean Government had helped the state in establishing rice mills, while an approval for the purchase and erection of four cassava mills was in progress.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Femi Abolarin commended the administration for its determination to reposition the sector.

Kwara

The Etsu Patigi in Kwara, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar, on Thursday rejected the call for constitutional roles for traditional rulers in the country.

He said if the leaders were given roles under the constitution, it would deny them of their primary responsibilities.

Speaking when members of the state House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Razaq Atunwa, paid him a courtesy visit during their oversight function to Patigi Local Government Area, the monarch said people might use the opportunity of such recognition to challenge traditional institutions in the courts while trying to perform their primary roles.

“I am not in support of clamour for constitutional responsibilities for traditional rulers because it would only tie them down. “Also it will impinge on their primary responsibility which is to advise people in government and tell them the truth all the times. “We should only be recognised constitutionally but not given constitutional roles. “We are neither looking for executive nor legislative powers but we should be recognised in the constitution. “The kingmakers cannot be the king to avoid a collapsed system”, the royal father said.

Lagos

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has alleged that the suspected vandals that destroyed NNPC pipelines at Arepo village, Ogun, were recruited from Ondo State riverine areas.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Mr Friday Ibadin, disclosed this to the newsmen in Lagos.

He said that preliminary investigations into the last pipeline explosion revealed that some young men were brought to Lagos from riverine areas of Ondo State, to replace the dead members of the group.

“One of the suspects arrested after the last explosion in Arepo, who identified himself as Computer, claimed that himself and two others were invited to Lagos on January10, to work,by one Igbekorowa, (suspected ring leader of pipeline vandals).

Ibadin said that the suspect claimed that the first place their leader took them to was the creeks in Ikorodu area, where he (leader) requested them to stay on the road.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State deputy governor, Mr Damishi Luka-Barau, has pledged the government’s commitment to ensure adequate medical services to enhance the wellbeing of the people in the state.

Luka-Barau made the declaration recently at a one-day free medical care at Ningo in the Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.

He commended members of the Nasarawa State Association of Pharmacy Students (NASAPS) at the University of Jos for their foresight in offering free medical care in conjunction with his office, and said that the CPC-led administration in the state had placed high premium on the health sector.

Niger

The Officer- in-Charge of Minna Orphanage, Hajiya Ladidi Mohammed, on Wednesday said the home had produced two undergraduates in two institutions of higher learning.

Mohammed told newsmen in Minna that, the orphans were currently studying in the state’s College of Administrative and Business Studies, Bida and College of Education, Minna.

She said that the students, Haruna Abdullahi, 30 and Useni Abdullahi, 28, who were in their second and first year respectively, were being sponsored by the Niger State Government.

Mohammed said the home catered for a total of 21 orphans including the two students adding that 15 of them are males while six are females.

She said that the orphans were mainly from broken homes, mentally-deranged women or lunatics, adding that the mode of adoption was based on legal procedure.

Ondo

Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Yekini Olanipekun, has directed contractors refurbishing the Akure Township Stadium to get the facility ready for the 2012/2013 football season.

The ministry’s Media Officer, Anota Adebayo, said on Thursday in Akure that the commissioner gave the directive at a stakeholders meeting with the contractors of the project.

It said the stadium project had caused a lot of embarrassment to the government, noting that the contractors had been fully paid for the job.

“The project was supposed to have been completed before the end of 2012, but suffered some setback because of the lackadaisical attitude of the contractors,” the statement said.

It said the commissioner urged the stakeholders involved in renovating the stadium to quickly complete the project ahead of the coming Nigeria Premier League, beginning on February 16.

Sokoto

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State on Wednesday ordered the redeployment of the Director of Agriculture; all the six deputy directors as well as the cashier of Kware Local Government Council of the state for absenteeism.

Wamakko gave the directive when he paid an unscheduled visit to the local government secretariat at about 8.35 a.m. Apparently enraged by their absence, the governor ordered the state Local Government Service Commission to effect the redeployment with immediate effect.

During the visit, the governor met the council staff officer and other directors in their offices while the chairman and secretary were said to be away on official assignment.

Similarly, the governor visited Government Day Secondary School, Dundaye at about 7.50 a.m where he met only seven teachers present out of the 23.

Other schools visited by the governor included Gidan Sarkin Dinki, and Tangwale Primary Schools, among others.

Plateau

The Commissioner for Health in Plateau, Dr Fom Dakwak, has confirmed the death of two persons from Lassa fever in Plateau.

Dakwak said on Wednesday in Jos that the first victim, a woman, died at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, while the other, a man, died at the Vom Christian Hospital.

According to him, the ministry has sent out epidemiologists to sensitise people at COCIN Pastoral School, Kanke, where a student died of the disease sometime ago, stating that two other victims of the disease in the Kanke area were currently on admission.

According to the commissioner, the epidemiologists conducting a sensitisation workshop at the school are focusing on the steps that must be taken to contain the spread of the disease.

He stated that the Lassa virus was usually transmitted to human when the saliva, urine and excreta of the multi-mammalian rats come in contact with humans through either their food or water.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.