Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

March 12, 2014

Adamawa
The Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS in Adamawa
State (ADSACA) has presented foodstuffs to members of the Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS in the state.
Presenting the items comprising grains, cooking oil, sugar and salt in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, the Chairperson of ADSACA, Dr Halima Nyako, said the gesture was part of the agency’s effort to ameliorate the challenges facing the patients.
Nyako said the agency was collaborating with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the Special Project Unit under the office of the state governor, to train people living with HIV/AIDS to enhance their living standard.
Nyako, who said that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS had dropped from 3.8 per cent to 1.9 per cent in the state, urged members of the public to know their status, in order to control the scourge of the disease.

Benue

Some internally displaced persons in Benue State have
called on the state government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide them with shelter.
The displaced persons from Guma and Makurdi Local Government Areas, said they fled their homes after an attack by suspected herdsmen.
Some of them told newsmen in Makurdi that they had been living on the street since the incident.
One of them, Mr Aho Alexander, a resident of Daudu, in Guma Local Government urged the authorities to provide them with a camp to ease their hardship.

FCT
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Women Com
mission has appealed to the Federal Government to do everything within its powers to stop insurgents from killing students in the northern part of the country.
The Chairperson of the commission, Mrs Lucy Offiong, made the appeal at the International Women’s Day 2014 celebration in Abuja.
She said, “we are saddened by the spate of killings in our dear country Nigeria, especially recent dimension of targeting young people in schools and colleges.
“Those innocent children were murdered in cold blood while pursuing their education. As mothers, we are greatly disturbed and condemn such cruel, inhuman and senseless killings.

Jigawa
The Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board
(SUBEB) said it had concluded plans to supply furniture worth N100 million to primary and junior secondary schools in the state.
Its Chairman, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi, told newsmen in Dutse that the measure was to address the dearth of the materials in the schools.
According to him, the board is conducting census of schools that require renovation, provision of additional classrooms and teaching materials.
Abdullahi said new schools would be opened in more villages to make education accessible to children across the state.
Kano
The Kano State Government has released N6.4 mil
lion for the treatment abroad of two children who were involved in a motor accident recently in the state.
The Interim Management Chairman of Madobi Local Government (LG), Alhaji Auwalu Tudunwada, disclosed this at a press briefing in Kano, recently.
Our correspondent reports that the children are Jamilu Ahmed and Idris Yunusa from the Madobi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The LG chairman said the money had since been handed over to the children’s parents to enable them travel immediately to India for the treatment of their wards.
Katsina

No fewer than 324 persons, received free medical
treatment during separate health awareness campaigns organised by some Cotton Farmers Cooperative Societies in Katsina State.
Our correspondent reports that the exercise, which began on March 6, ended on Sunday and was conducted in collaboration with West African Cotton Company Ltd., (WACOT).
The free healthcare programmes, were held at Babara village in Malumfashi and Unguwa Makera in Funtua local government areas, respectively.
Our correspondent reports that patients drawn from farming families and other rural settlements were offered free medical services and quality drugs during the exercise.

Kwara

The Chairman of Oke-Ero Local Government Area
of Kwara State, Mrs Aminat Yusuf, said that traditional rulers should be given more constitutional recognition through the national conference.
Yusuf made this known while addressing APC members in Ilofa ward, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara.
She urged the conference to deliberate on assigning specific roles to traditional rulers to assist government in solving the socio-economic and security challenges at the grassroots.
The chairman said most of the communities in the country were witnessing development and increase in population due to influx of job-seeking youths into cities.

Lagos

Executive Director of Centre for Citizens with
Disabilities (CCD), Mr David Anyaele, has lamented the exclusion of hearing impaired persons as delegates to the forthcoming national conference.
Anyaele made the observation in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
He noted that although six slots had been provided for persons with disabilities, none of those selected has hearing impairment.
“The list of delegates showed that Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria has six slots, which presuppose the six major cluster groups.
Ogun
A lawmaker in Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr
Joseph Adegbesan, has in Abeokuta expressed support for Federal Government’s plan to involve forest guards in combating Boko Haram insurgents in the country’s North-East geo-political zone.
Adegbesan, who is a member of the Ogun House of Assembly, told newsmen that he was optimistic that the plan would work.
He said the recruitment of forest guards would help uncover routes where arms were being smuggled into the country.

Osun
The Osun State Commissioner for Women Affairs,
Mrs Mofolake Adegboyega, has called for gender equality in political representation in the country.
Adegboyega made the call at a symposium organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs to mark the 2014 International Women‘s Day in Osogbo.
The theme of the symposium is ‘’ Challenges and Achievements in the Implementation of Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) for Women and Girls.’’
The commissioner said to achieve the MDGs, adequate recognition and representation must be given to women in the nation’s political setting .

Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has
urged President Goodluck Jonathan to use presidential powers to stop the killing of innocent people in North East and Benue State.
Our correspondent reports that Abubakar spoke in Sokoto when Jonathan paid him a courtesy visit recently.
“Human life is sacred. I always express sadness over the insurgency in North East and the most worrisome of it is the killing of innocent school children in Yobe.
“This is the height of madness of the insurgency and the killing must be stopped immediately’’, the Sultan said.

Taraba
The Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Mr
Josiah Kente has urged the people of Southern Taraba to forget about their differences and work toward the development of the area.
Kente made the call at the 3rd Southern Taraba Christian Youth for Peace and Unity Summit in Donga.
He said “God put the Jukuns, the Chamba, Tiv, Kuteb, Hausa/Fulani and Ichen tribes in Southern Taraba to live peacefully and develop the area.
“It is not by mistake that God put the various tribes in the same area.

L-R: Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Managing Director, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Stella Okoli, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Mrs Glory Opusunju-Nene, at an exhibition stand, during the Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage in Abuja, last Monday.

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.