Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

April 7, 2014

Benue

The Benue State Government says it has adopted a
new formula for the sharing of relief materials to victims of current attacks in the state.
Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Adikpo Agbatse told newsmen in Makurdi that the formula was evolved to ensure equity in the distribution of the materials.
He said 40 per cent of the materials would go to those in temporary camps, while the remaining 60 per cent would be shared to local government councils and wards affected by the crises for distribution to victims.
Agbatse explained that the policy was to ensure that the assistance got to rural communities and to discourage people from staying in camps.

Kaduna

Jema’a Local Government Council of Kaduna State,
says it has relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed in Kafanchan by 10 hours.
Our correspondent reports that a 24-hour curfew was imposed in Kafanchan township recently, following the youths’ reaction to the arrest of 24 men allegedly in possession of arms.
Chairman, Mr Daniel Amos, of the council said in Kafanchan that residents were now free to go about their businesses from 6 am to 4 pm.
“The development is due to relative calm witnessed within the metropolis.

Kwara

An Area Court in Kaiama, Kwara State, has granted
the prayer for divorce filed by a housewife, Rakiat Alidu.
Rakiat, who said her four-year-old marriage to her husband, Musa, was blessed with a child, filed for divorce because the union“ lacked the needed love.”
The President of the court, Malam Ahmed Yahaya, held that the divorce was granted in line with the provisions of the law in favour of Rakiat.

Kebbi

The Kebbi State-owned University of Science and
Technology has commenced a general training for the 8,689 newly recruited personnel to teach in the state’s secondary schools.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdu Zuru, told newsmen in Aliero that the seven-week training would focus on classroom management, lesson plan, scheme of work and extra-curricular activities. “The training will be conducted in batches, with each batch consisting of 1,200 teachers,’’ he said.
According to him, the trainees will receive a weekly stipend of N2,000 each.

Katsina

The Katsina State Government has approved N100
million to assist victims of the recent attack in Faskari, Sabuwa and Safana Local Government Areas of the state.
The state’s Head of Service, Alhaji Muhammad Aliyu, announced the donation at a news conference in Katsina recently.
Aliyu said the money would be shared among relations of those who died or suffered injury during the attack.
Aliyu said he would head the committee that would distribute the money, explaining that the gesture was part of government’s determination to identify with the people in time of distress.

Lagos

An Abule Egba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has sen
tenced a 20-year-old meat seller, Oye Adeleke to three years imprisonment for raping his customer’s under-aged daughter.
The Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, sentenced Adeleke without an option of fine.
“This will serve as deterrent to others who indulge in having sex with a teenager.
This sentencing is mitigated by virtue of the leg injury of the defendant and remorse on his part,’’ Elias said, while convicting Adeleke.

Nasarawa
A Grade 1 Area Court in Aso Pada, Mararaba,
Nasarawa State, has sentenced a timber dealer, Felix Sunday, to three years in prison for criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The presiding judge, Mr Albert Maga, gave the judgment and ordered the convict to pay N670,000 as compensation to one Mr Benedit Oyika, the plaintiff.
Maga, however, gave option of N10,000 fine to the convict.
Earlier, the plaintiff in his testimony, told the court that one of his friends introduced the convict to him as a timber dealer.
Oyo

A Grade “C ” Customary Court in Iseyin, Oyo State,
has ordered Idowu Oluokun, Muiz Adebayo and Muniru Adeyemi, who are all claiming paternity of a six-year-old, to maintain the peace.
The President of the court, Mr Kareem Adelodun, gave the order after informing Oluokun and Adebayo who were in court that a third claimant, Adeyemi, had also written claiming paternity of the child.
Adelodun, who adjourned further hearing on the matter until April 7, also ordered all the parties to produce evidence of paternity.

Ogun
The Chief Dr Babatunde Banuso Medical Director of
the State Hospital, Ota, Ogun State, has warned Nigerians against using local herbs whose efficacy could not be ascertained.
Banuso said in an interview with newsmen in Ota that they might have side effects with serious health implications.
“The side effects of some of the traditional herbs on the human system can be disastrous as it could lead to deadly diseases like kidney and cancer,’’ he said.
He said the resort to herbs had been identified as one of the contributing factors to the ill-health of many people across the country.

Plateau

The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA), has said it has established 11 camps for the 100,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from eight crisis-ridden local governments in Benue.
The NEMA Coordinator for North-Central, Mr Mohammed Abdulsalam made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Jos.
He said “each camp has a minimum of 8,500 IDPs.
“The camps are just too populated and we are thinking of establishing more because more people are trooping into Makurdi from even the areas that have not been attacked.

Taraba

The police command in Taraba State says it has
arrested nine people who specialised in stealing yam tubers in Ibi Local Government Area of the state.
The Public Relations Officer of the command , ASP Joseph Kwaji, made the disclosure at a news conference in Jalingo.
Kwaji said a police patrol team in Ibi arrested the suspects, comprising seven men and two women, while stealing the produce.
He said the suspects are Abdullahi Umaru, Yunusa A Yunusa, Mustapha Hamusu, Idris Mohammed, Adamu Muhammed, Yusuf Aliyu, Mairo Maijaki, Adamu Musa and Hauwa Shagari.

Zamfara

More than N1.3 billion has been spent by the
Tertiary Institutions Trust Fund (TETFUND) to improve facilities at the Zamfara State College of Education, Maru, since 2011.
The Provost of the College, Alhaji Kabir Dankande said this in an interview with newsmen in Maru.
Dankande said the institution had recorded various transformations through its partnership with TETFUND, especially in the areas of physical structures and manpower development.

Executive Secretary, African Capacity Building Foundation (acbf), Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie (left), exchanging documents with Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, after signing projects grants agreement between National Institute for Legislative Studies (nils) and acbf in Abuja, recently. Photo: NAN

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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.