Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

March 5, 2014

Adamawa

The College of Education, Hong, in Adamawa State,
has been shut down and students directed to go home following alleged threat by members of the Boko Haram sect to attack the school.
The Provost of the college, Dr Johnson Pongri, who confirmed the closure in a news conference in Yola, said the move was based on the advice of the Military Task Force in the area.
Pongri said the school had been receiving threat letters by unknown persons who claimed to be members of the Boko Haram.
In another development, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has visited Michika and Shuwa towns to sympathise with victims of recent attack by insurgents.

FCT

Vice President Namadi Sambo said every Nigerian
who had contributed or is still contributing to nation-building is a winner in the centenary celebrations.
Sambo stated this in Abuja in a welcome address at the centenary awards and dinner chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Vice President said while 100 people had been selected for the centenary awards, many more Nigerians are deserving of it.
“They are by no means not only the people to be celebrated, there are many more Nigerians.
“But, as the saying goes, many are called, few are chosen, he said.

Jigawa

Residents of Dutse in Jigawa State have expressed
surprise over the first rainfall recorded in the state.
Our correspondent reports that the heavy downfall, which started 6.10 p.m. lasted for one and half hours.
Rabiu Shehu, a resident of the town said that he was surprised when he noticed heavy cloud in the sky and did not believe it would rain.
He said that the state used to record its first rainfall in the month of May.

Kogi

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State said that the
state would intensify efforts toward ensuring
that the state remained polio free.
Wada made the pledge at the launch of the March 2014 National Immunisation Plus Days at Okpo, in Olamaboro Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, described the immunisation exercise as a critical aspect of government’s effort to reduce communicable diseases.
He expressed delight that the state remained polio free and assured the people that the government’s programmes were designed to put smiles on the faces of vulnerable groups in the state.

Kwara

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has urged
civil servants to always offer useful advice to politicians in order to attain the laudable goal of transforming the society.
Ahmed made the call at the opening of the 38th Meeting of the National Council on Establishments in Ilorin recently.
The governor, represented by his Deputy, Elder Peter Kisira, said the civil service was a veritable tool for attainment of the growth and development of the nation.
Earlier, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Aji, called on heads of service across the country to develop a system which would improve the capacity of civil servants across the nation.
Lagos

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said
the Federal Government had created an atmosphere of freedom for the media to operate.
Maku spoke at the 30th Memorial of the late Founder of the Punch newspapers, Chief James Aboderin, which held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos.
He said the Federal Government would continue to support the media, stressing that there was no reason for any news medium not to prosper.
“If you look at the writings, I believe the Nigerian press is one of the freest in the world today and that is the best the government can do not to suppress other views”, he said.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji
Ibrahim Idris, has advised politicians against “do-or-die politics.’’
The commissioner gave the advice at an interactive session with leaders of the APC and PDP, ahead of the state’s Local Government polls, slated for March 22.
“Politicians must avoid acts that portray them as desperate, they must avoid being selfish.’’
Idris admonished the leadership of the two parties to enlighten their followers on the need to be orderly during the election, vowing to deal decisively with anybody or group, that might want to foment trouble.

Niger

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology
(FUT) Minna, Prof. Musbau Akanji has inaugurated the new management board of the university’s Search FM 92.3 Radio Station.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Vice Chancellor charged the members to nurture the station and enforce the ethics of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Akanji congratulated them and urged them to keep up the standard of the radio station.
He urged the board members to ensure that the station served as a training medium and provide exposure to students in media-related courses of the institution.

Osun

A group, Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and
Harmony in Africa Initiative, has advised Nigerians to use the centenary celebrations to reflect on how to build a better nation.
The group in a statement in Osogbo, urged Nigerians to reflect on the virtues of tolerance, justice and other values that would uphold the status of Nigeria as a leading nation.
The statement, signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Mrs Olayinka Ojomo, challenged Nigerians to reflect and evaluate the past so as to take a better stock of the present.

Plateau

The Sultan of Sokoto, Ahaji Sa’ad Abubukar, has
urged traditional rulers and other Nigerians to unite to collectively fight extremism and terrorism.
Abubakar made the appeal on Saturday in Jos, when he visited the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba.
The sultan said that Nigerians, irrespective of religious leanings, had a common problem in terrorism.
“We have common problems in this country – religious extremism, terrorism, poverty, unemployment, strikes, dearth of basic infrastructure, among others. “These problems have no religious or tribal colour, and we must unite and defeat them so that God Almighty, who created us, will bless us.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government is to establish more
micro-finance banks to promote economic empowerment of the masses.
Governor Aliyu Wamakko announced this in Sokoto State at the 2013 Bankers’ Committee Dinner and Award Night.
According to the governor, micro-finance has proven to be a vibrant tool to improve the living standards of the people, especially those at the grassroots.
“The few ones operating in Gwadabawa, Yabo, Sokoto and Goronyo, among others, are really helping in revamping the rural economies’’, Wamakko said.

Taraba

The Taraba State Police Command said it had
arrested seven suspected cult members.
Addressing newsmen in Jalingo, Mr Joseph Kwaji, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said they were arrested in a forest opposite Federal Government College Wukari on the Jalingo road recently.
He said the suspects would be charged with criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly and unlawful possession of fire arms.
He said that they were nabbed following information provided by members of the vigilance group in Wukari Local Government Area.

L-R: Lagos State representatives at the National Confab, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Prince Rabiu Oluwa, Chairman, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Mr Supo Sasore (San), Mr Waheed Ayeni and Mrs Olufunmi Oshinowo-Bashorun, during their meeting with Governor Fashola in Lagos last Monday. Photo: NAN

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

11 hours 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

11 hours 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

11 hours 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.