Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

March 6, 2013

Bauchi

The Gombe State Water Board, says the state will meet the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of providing potable water and basic sanitation to half of the population before 2015.

The board’s General Manager, Alhaji Isa Mohammed, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi recently.

Mohammed, who was in Bauchi to witness the launching of Bauchi State Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Policy, said the state had short-term and long-term policy toward achieving the MDGs objectives.

“We have short term solution and part of the short-term is all the boreholes are undergoing reticulation and about 70 per cent of the boreholes are functional and undergoing repairs.

Borno

Fifty persons have returned to Maiduguri after a three-month extensive training on agriculture in Thailand.

The group, comprising 41 males and nine female departed home in November for the course aimed at preparing ground for agricultural revolution in the state.

Receiving the group, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, the Deputy Governor of the state, commended them for their dedication to study while in Thailand.

Mustapha explained that they were sent for training in Thailand so that the state would be among the top food producers in the country.

FCT

A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, says granting local government councils autonomy is not a solution to their problems.

Onyejeocha (PDP-Abia), the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.

She said that the problem inhibiting the development of local government areas in the country was not who kept the money allocated to the councils, but how it was managed.

“Is the problems about who keeps the money or who gives out the money?

Gombe

The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, has enjoined stakeholders to follow proper channels to register their products with the agency.

Orhii made the call at the interactive session with the stakeholders in Gombe last Friday.

He said that following due process in the registration of products would assist the country in ensuring quality products for the consumers.

According to him, the purpose of the meeting is to interact with the stakeholders on the challenges facing them in the state and to look for a way forward.

Kaduna

The Federal Government is planning to establish mega universities to address admission constraints among Nigerians, President Goodluck Jonathan said last Saturday in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The President said this at a special convocation and launching of N50 billion Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Phase II Development Fund at the university’s main campus, Samaru, Zaria.

Jonathan was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

He said that when established, each of the mega universities would absorb more than 200,000 students.

Kano

The Kano State Government has assured residents of provision of a healthy and safe environment.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, made the promise at the end of this month’s sanitation exercise in Kano.

Abbas said that the government would, however, require the support and cooperation of the people to make a success of the programme.

“The main objective for introducing this exercise was to change the attitude of people on the issue of health. The governor is very concerned in seeing that health is improved tremendously through personal sanitation and hygiene.”

Kwara

The Elerin of Erinle, Oba Abdulganiyu Ibrahim Olosooku, has appealed to parents to always encourage their children and wards who wish to participate in sporting activities.

Olosooku made the appeal recently at Erinle, Kwara, while honouring the U-15 Moje Queen FC of Erinle that represented Nigeria at a soccer tournament in Germany.

The monarch said the team’s feat overwhelmed him with joy, noting that many of such success would come the community’s way.

He commended their parents for releasing them for the tournament in spite of the misgivings of some of his subjects.

Lagos

Vincent Adekoya, an Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, last Sunday in Lagos advised against the use of car-piece and exposure to noisy environment to prevent hearing loss. Adekoya, a lecturer at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, (LASUTH), gave the advice in an interview with newsmen to mark International Day for Ear and Hearing.

He said that 90 per cent of hearing loss could be prevented because most of the causes were usually acquired due to ignorance or negligence.

According to him, some pregnant women use drugs indiscriminately during the first three months of baby formation and this can affect the baby’s hearing ability.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Government is to purchase 2,000 computer laptops for distribution to its civil servants, Mr Andrew Affi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, has said.

Affi however, told newsmen on Saurday in Lafia that the laptops would not be given out free of charge.

“Any civil servant who is interested will be given one for N135,000 and will be expected to pay up the money within 18 months,” he said.

Niger

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger has dissuaded the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) from making the killing of two students of Nasarawa State University to degenerate into national problem.

Aliyu gave the advice on Friday in Minna when he met with the NANS’ Director of Exchange programmes, Mr Olusina Oyebisi, who presented a document to him on the issue.

According to him, if the issue is not resolved it may affect the entire education sector of the country.

It would be recalled that two students of the university were allegedly killed by soldiers, while protesting against water scarcity on the campus and its environs on February 25.

Ogun

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo last Saturday identified lack of quality leadership among other factors as major hindrances to development in Nigeria as well as other African countries.

Obasanjo, who acknowledged that Nigeria and Africa had enormous potential, said it was only quality leadership that could bring such to realisation.

He spoke in Abeokuta during the final of Africa Region Intercollegiate Debate on Human

Security Africa, organised by Centre for Human Security, (CHS), an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.

Some University and secondary schools from secondary schools from Nigeria and other African countries participated in the debate.

Plateau

The Special Task Force (STF) maintaining security in Plateau said there was an attempt by some miscreants to bomb a mosque in Jos recently.

This is contained in a statement signed by the STF Media Officer, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, on Saturday in Jos.

It stated that the attempted attack on the mosque took place at about 8.30 p.m.

The mosque, the statement added, was located on the Bukuru expressway in Jos South LGA.

According to the statement, the miscreants threw a hand grenade into the mosque but it failed to detonate and thereafter, they fired shots in the air and escaped.

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.