Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

March 20, 2013

Bauchi

The management of NIGAZ company has said that River Kolmari, situated between Bauchi and Gombe States border, is capable of producing 10 Megawatts of electricity for the nation.

A representative of the firm, Mr Andrey Maslov, said this in Bauchi while presenting the feasibility studies the company conducted in conjunction with the Northern Nigeria Development Company (NNDC).

The feasibility was presented to the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Sangir, and other stakeholders.

Sangir said that 25 million dollars (N3.89 billion) was required for the whole project which was expected to be completed within 15 months to 18 months from the date of commencement.

FCT

The Budget Office of the federation has denied issuing any directive to ministries, departments and agencies to ignore the implementation of the 2013 appropriation bill.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Francis Ojiah, Director, Administration, Budget Office, in Abuja.

“We wish to state categorically that this is absolutely untrue.

“At no time since the passage of the 2013 budget and subsequent assent by Mr President, did the budget office issue such a directive,” it said.

Gombe

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Tambuwal, has performed the foundation laying ceremony of the N2.7 billion International Conference Centre (ICC) in Gombe State.

Tambuwal commended Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State for initiating the construction of the centre and other projects executed in the state.

He said the governor’s efforts were in line with the PDP’s manifesto of peace and development.

“You are all aware that Gombe State is the second least in terms of federation allocation but the projects the governor has executed show that there is prudence and accountability in the state,” he said.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State University, Kaduna, last Saturday graduated 1,705 students from 2008/2009 and 2011/2012 sessions.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Barnabas Qurix, announced this during the maiden convocation of the institution.

Ourix said 14 students graduated with first class honours.

He said the candidates graduated from mathematics, computer science, bio-chemistry and other departments.

Kano

The Kano State Government I says a total of 1,600 women were trained in poultry production in the state in the past two years.

The governor of the state, Alhaji Rabi’u Kwankwaso, made the disclosure at the graduation ceremony of the sixth batch of 600 women, who received training on poultry production at the Kano Poultry Institute in Tukui, Kano.

He said the trainees were selected from 16 out of the 44 Local Government Areas in the state, pointing out that the remaining 28 council areas would soon take their turn.

Kwankwaso gave an assurance that the State Government would continue to support beneficiaries of all its empowerment programmes.

Kwara

Dr Emmanuel Ojo of the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, has accused Nigerian lawyers of not doing enough in the fight against corruption.

The political scientist told newsmen in Ilorin that lawyers, through frivolous applications, frustrated anti-graft cases in court.

“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), is not really helping matters in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

“The lawyers manipulate the court system on grounds of technicalities to secure frivolous adjournments, thereby frustrating the polity and encouraging corruption.”

Lagos

Former Chairman, Ikeja branch of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr Chukwuemeka Eze, has called on federal and state governments to strictly enforce the tax laws.

Eze made the call while speaking in an interview with newmen in Lagos.

He said that strict enforcement of the tax laws would encourage compliance and ultimately improve revenue generation in the country.

Eze said that it would be difficult to achieve optimally in terms of revenue generation from taxes when the laws regulating them were not properly enforced.

Nasarawa

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office, in Obi local government area of Nasarawa State, has advised communities in the state to ensure proper maintenance of projects executed in their domains.

The Technical Assistant Officer in the council Mr Ahmed Musa, gave the advice during an inspection of various MDGs projects in the area.

Musa said: “The government has played its part by executing these various projects in order to fight poverty and hunger.

“I urge various communities in this area to complement government’s efforts by safeguarding these projects executed in your communities.

Ogun

Two 100 level students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB), were killed last Friday by a hit-and-run motorist currently at large.

An eyewitness account said that the incident happened at about 7.30 p.m. in front of Isolu Muslim High School, Alabata, about a kilometre away from FUNNAB.

The driver of the vehicle, a golden colour jeep, was said to be on top speed and trying to avoid a collision with a vehicle from the opposite direction, when he suddenly swerved and ran into the students, who were said to be returning home from school.

Ondo

The Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, has commended the Ondo State Government for its urban renewal and beautification projects in Akure and other major towns.

Adesida gave the commendation in Akure, while speaking with newsmen.

He noted that the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko had performed creditably in many areas.

The monarch particularly extolled the administration for transforming Akure into a modern state capital.

Adesida, who is the Chriamn of Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, stressed that he was happy that Akure had experienced a remarkable transformation, especially in the area of infrastructure.

Plateau

Women in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State failed to attend the free medical treatment organised by the Special Task Force (STF) maintaining peace in the state.

The medical outreach was organised by the task force as a strategy for creating mutual co-existence amongst the people of the state.

A representative of the women, Mrs Naomi Dalyop, said they refused to avail themselves of the service for fear of being poisoned by the military personnel.

“A lot of women refused to show up here because we were told that the drugs that would be given to us at this free medical outreach would be poisoned.

“So many of us have this notion that if we show up here, we might not return alive to our various homes.

Taraba

The permanent site for Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Taraba will soon be ready for commissioning, the site engineer, Mr. Shaba Owolabi, has said.

Owolabi, who spoke on behalf of the construction company handling the project, Eurobel International, stated this on Monday in Jalingo in an interview with newsmen.

He said the project, which began in November 2012, would be handed over to the board by March 23 as scheduled.

Owolabi commended the state’s JAMB coordinator, Mrs. Veronica Ayuba, for her “unflinching support” towards the completion of the project.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

7 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

7 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

7 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.