Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

January 1, 2014

Representative of IGP, Mr Chris Olakpe (right), presenting food items on behalf of IGP to one of the widows of police officers that lost their lives on duty, Mrs Nandi Peter, during the presentation of food items to the widows in Jos last Monday.

Bauchi

The diverse ethnic and multi-religious communities of Yelwa, Kagadama, Gwallameji and Lushi of Birshi-Miri District, Bauchi, Bauchi state last Saturday celebrated six years of living together in peaceful co-existence.

The programme was organised by Muslim and Christian Youth Movement for Peace in conjunction with Birshi-Miri Concern Citizens Forum.

In his speech, Mr Yusuf Kumsu, the Chairman, organising committee of the programme, explained that the event was organised to celebrate six years of peaceful co-existence among the diverse ethnic groups in the communities.

The state Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda expressed joy for the lasting peace being enjoyed in the state in spite of the current security challenges affecting the neighbouring states and commended the organisers of the event as well as religious and community leaders for the wonderful initiative.

Benue

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, last Sunday, said some yet to be identified criminals, under the guise of Fulani herdsmen have been attacking and killing Tiv indigenes in the state.

Governor Suswam, while briefing journalists at the end of a security meeting held at the new banquet hall in Makurdi, said “some criminals are the ones attacking Benue communities, not Fulani herdsmen.

The governor added that the security meeting became necessary following the continued attack and killing of innocent Benue citizens in Guma, Gwer West and Makurdi.

Suswan said a committee had been raised, chaired by a Retired Permanent Secretary, Mr Moses Anagende, and 11 members to recommend ways of arresting the criminals. He said the committee has one week to submit its report.

Kano

The Kano State Government is to deploy sanitary in-spectors to all the 44 local government areas of the state.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, who disclosed this in an interview in Kano after the monthly sanitation exercise in some parts of the state, expressed dismay over the sanitary condition of some areas.

He specifically indicted owners of some business outfits for operating without regards to basic rules of hygiene.

Abbas also said sanitary inspectors to be deployed to the council areas would be empowered with the necessary skills to ensure the discharge of their duties.

Katsina

Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State last Sunday said the state’s Local Government elections would be conducted in the first quarter of 2014.

Shema who disclosed this in Katsina at a state PDP zonal meeting said the elections date would be announced in January for the political parties to begin preparations

The governor, who was represented by Sen. Umar Tsauri, said all the materials needed for the exercise were on ground.

The 34 local governments in the state were being managed by caretaker committees as a result of the expiration of the tenure of elected council officials early in 2011.

“The elections will take place next year, God willing, because everything has been put in place,’’ Shema said.

Kogi

Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, has called on Nigerians to strive for legacies that would outlive their stay on earth.

Awoniyi made the call last Saturday at the funeral of Mrs Elizabeth Bello, former Chief Nursing Officer in Egbe, Yagba East Local Government Area of the State.

Awoniyi, who described death as a compulsory end for all mortals, held that it was unfortunate that people now lived without thinking of leaving good legacies behind.

He said the deceased would be remembered for putting smiles on the faces of women whom she medically assisted to achieve conception and delivery and called on the family she left behind to take solace in her good works and be consoled by the testimonies about her life.

Kwara

The Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Council in Kwara State, Alhaji Luqman Owolewa, on Sunday, said the council discovered 339 “ghost workers’’ on its monthly pay roll.

Owolewa said in Omu-Aran, headquarters of the council, that an audit committee would soon be set up to scrutinise the council’s pay system.

He said the audit committee became necessary in order to fish out more “ghost workers’’ and correct other anomalies in the council’s pay process.

The chairman said that the result of his assessment of the workers few weeks after assumption of duty showed that out of the 839 workers on the council’s pay roll, only 500 were genuine staff members.

Nasarawa

The traditional ruler of Shafa Abakpa Community in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Hussaini Kyafi, has urged the Federal Government and wealthy Nigerians to promote the country’s cultural heritage.

Kyafi stated this on Sunday at Shafa Abakpa, in the Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, during the 2013 Irewha Hunting Festival, an annual event which unites all the community’s tribes and brings members of the community together.

Kyafi said the event was a cultural heritage and traced its origin to the first settlers in the community, who were all hunters.

Special Adviser to the Nasarawa State Governor on Legislative Matters, Mr Musa Yusuf, said the event reminds Nigerians of their cultural values and virtues.

Niger

The Nupe Land Community Association for Grassroots Transformation has renewed its agitation for the creation of Edu State.

The Secretary of the association, Alhaji Baba Wachiko, who renewed the agitation in Bida on Sunday, said the new state, to be carved out of Niger, Kogi and Kwara states, “will cater for the needs of Nupe speaking people.”

Wachiko, who made the call in a paper he presented at the summit of the association, said the creation of the new state would serve as panacea for the socio-political and economic empowerment of the Nupe people.

He said “this agitation should not be treated as an exclusive affair of the Nupe speaking people. Rather, it is about the present and future status of Niger State which every reasonable Nigerlite should be interested in. The creation of a new state from the present Niger State is long overdue.

Lagos

The Lagos State Government said it had spent N1billion to support no fewer than 400 graduate farmers to set up their own farms.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, said in Lagos that the beneficiaries were those trained under the state’s Agricultural Youths Empowerment Scheme(AGRIC-YES).

The commissioner said that the essence of the programme was to create a generation of modern farmers, while creating job opportunities and promoting food security.

Lawal said that the programme was fully residential, adding that the government only recently inaugurated 200 units of two-bedroom apartments at the programme site, to improve the living standards of participants.

Osun

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has pledged to restore the lost glory of Modakeke in 2014.

Aregbesola made the promise in a message to the 28th Modakeke Ako-ri-aaye Day Celebration and Launch of N500million Community Development Fund, Saturday.

The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Fatai Kolawole, said more local governments would be created.

He said this issue, which had been before the Osun Assembly, would be actualised and would surely favour the people of Modakeke.

Plateau

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, last Monday donated foodstuffs to widows of policemen killed while on duty in the Plateau command.

The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, who represented the IGP, said the items was to enable them celebrate the New Year.

Olakpe said the items included a cow, 30 bags of rice and eight cartons of vegetable oil, stating that the items were for 30 widows that lost their bread winners in the line of duty within the past 12 months.

Responding on behalf of the widows, Mrs. Nandi Edache, commended the IGP for the gesture and called on the IGP to accelerate the payment of their husbands’ benefits to enable them settle their children’s school fees.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government last Sunday announced plans to sponsor 200 students to pursue various degree programmes in Cyprus and Pakistan.

Gov. Aliyu Wamakko disclosed this at the Yabo Local Government Area of the State when he inaugurated some projects executed by the Old Boys’ Association of the Sarkin Kabi Shehu Model Primary School, Yabo.

Wamakko said that the students were expected to depart Sokoto for Cyprus and Pakistan in January 2014.

He commended the members of the association for executing the projects and appealed to others to emulate them.

Wamakko stressed the need for all and sundry to complement the government’s efforts in providing a conducive atmosphere for effective teaching and learning.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

3 weeks 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 weeks 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 weeks 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.