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THE STATES

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Benue
Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has warned
people against playing  politics with  the lingering crisis between farmers and herdsmen in parts of the state.
Suswam said this at Ayilamo, Logo Local Government area, while addressing displaced people in the area.
“Stop making politics on the ongoing attacks and killings of innocent people in the state.
“We are a peace-loving people historically and we will always ensure that peace and unity prevail and our brothers living among us,” he said.

FCT

Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission
(NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie,  has said the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) would facilitate sharing of research findings amongst universities.
Okojie, who said this at an inaugural meeting of NgREN Board, added that the project was significant to the Nigerian University System (NUS).
He noted that NgREN was conceived after many initiatives to address connectivity needs of the NUS, yielded little or no result.
“There is a need to address the dearth of basic net-working infrastructure, especially broadband connectivity which is hindering the deployment of ICT solutions in the universities, ‘’ he said.

Jigawa

The Federal University in Dutse is considering the pos
sibility of introducing Mass Communication Study due to high demand for the course in Jigawa State.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Jibrila Amin, stated this while addressing newsmen to mark its third Founders Day in Dutse.
“We have started reaching out to some professors of mass communication in other universities to come and assess the facilities and what it takes’’, he said.
He said that the institution would also commence post-graduate courses in economics, English and communication studies.

Kaduna
Residents of Kaduna metropolis have lamented the in
adequate provision of refuse clearance and evacuation equipment by the state government.
Speaking with newsmen in Kaduna, the residents said the indiscriminate dumping of refuse within the metropolis was gradually turning into an eyesore.
Abdulkareem Hassan, who lives in Tudun Wada area of the state said, “I pay local refuse collectors to clear my dustbins whenever it is due for collection.

Kwara
An Ilorin Area Court has dissolved the three -year -old
marriage between Munirat Ahmed and Dauda Ahmed on ground of “lousiness”.
Munirat, who resides at Edun area, Ilorin told the court that her husband was lousy and could not keep secrets.
She prayed the court to dissolve her marriage to Dauda, adding that, she cannot continue with a man that will reveal all their marital plans to outsiders.
The petitioner told the court that her husband sought advice from friends to run his family affairs.
“My husband does not care who his   enemy is, he will continue to explain his family problems in the public,” she said.

Kebbi
The Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammad
Bashar, has advised youths to shun tribal and religious bigotry in order to promote peaceful coexistence in the country.
He made the call in Birnin Kebbi, when he received members of the Kebbi State Youth Alliance, who paid him a visit. He also urged the youths to promote their heritage and cultural values, and respect their leaders and elders.
Bashar said “God in his infinite mercy brought us to live together and we need to be kind to one another”.

Lagos

A 38-year-old driver, Stephen Igwe, was has been
charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing his employer’s N4.5million jeep.
Igwe, who resides at No. 40, Olushi St., Lagos Island, was charged with stealing.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, Cpl. Ejima Oteke, told the court that the accused committed the offence at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 14, at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Oteke said the accused, who was sent on an errand, absconded with a black Nissan Murano jeep with registration number JC667-SMK belonging to his employer, Rear-Adm. Joseph Oladeinde.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission
(NASIEC), has reassured the electorate in the state of its determination to conduct free, fair and credible local government election slated for March 22.
The NASIEC Chairman in the state, Dr Abdullahi Modibbo, gave the assurance in Lafia at a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.
“The commission is determined to conduct credible local government election that will be emulated by other states in the country.
“Elections in Nigeria had been characterised by all kinds of sentiments thereby leading to the breakdown of law and order,” he said.

Osun

A 29-year-old man, Micheal Kolade, was last Thursday
brought before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged fraud and theft of N1.3million.
The prosecutor, Insp. Wilson Mereti, told the court that the accused, his accomplices, Gbolagale Adebiyi and one Daniel, now at large, committed the offence between February 11 and February 20 at Ibromu Quarters in Ile-Ife.
Mereti said the accused and his accomplices conspired and committed felony and theft when they fraudulently obtained a bus from one Ogunlowo Olatunde under the pretext of buying it.
He said the accused and his accomplices deceived their victim with a false bank deposit alert, reflecting that they had paid N1.37million into his bank account for the bus.
He said the appearance of the fake alert on Olatunde’s phone deceived him into giving the bus and its documents to the accused thinking they had struck a genuine deal.

Ondo

Ondo State Government has promised to give special
package and welfare to teachers posted to difficult and remote areas.
The Commissioner for Education, Mr Jide Adejuyigbe, stated this recently in Akure at a stakeholders’ meeting on monitoring and supervision of public secondary schools.
The meeting was organised by state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
“We are looking at a special package for teachers posted to remote areas; we are also considering some incentives to ensure their staying there,’’ the commissioner said.
Adejuyigbe rejected the notion that there was an acute shortage of teachers in the state public schools.

Ogun

The  member representing Imeko Afon Constituency
in the Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Salmon Adeleke,  has commended the  state government for  beefing up security in the state.
Adeleke gave the commendation in Abeokuta in an interview with newsmen.
He  said  the donation of a patrol van to the police in Imeko Afon was an indication  of Gov.  Ibikunle Amosun’s commitment to safety of lives and properties.
The lawmaker, however, appealed to the  Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, to intensify  patrol of  the area.

Yobe

The, Yobe State Government has said that the closure of
Federal Government Colleges in the three north-eastern states would help the students and their parents overcome fear arising from armed attacks.
Our correspondent reports that the Federal Government ordered the closure of unity colleges in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in February following attacks on the colleges by gunmen.
Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Ahmed Goniri, stated the government’s position in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
Goniri, who is also chairman, Federal Government College (FGC), Buni-Yadi Relief Committee, said: “Parents and students are still in a state of phobia and fear; the temporary closure will give them the opportunity to overcome fear.”

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of  Edo State, Chairman, Nigerian Governors’  Forum,  Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti  State at a retreat of Nigerian Governors’ Forum in Lagos, last Friday

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State at a retreat of Nigerian Governors’ Forum in Lagos, last Friday

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REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

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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.
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Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

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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.
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Lagos Residents Stranded As Floods Cut Off Ajah, Mafoluku Communities

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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.
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