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THE STATES

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Adamawa
A former Governor of Adamawa  State, Mr Boni Haruna,
said that the era of imposing candidates on the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was over.
Haruna, who is also the Minister of Youth Development, told newsmen in Yola that the state now had a reformed PDP where everyone was carried along.
“We are now going to play by the rules. It is not going to be like what happened in 2002.
“We will go back to the original formula of PDP in 1999 where people emerged through the popular will and not through the manipulations of structures by those in positions,” the minister said.

Borno
The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zannah
Mustapha, has urged the military to redouble efforts in ending the Boko Haram menace for peace to reign in the country.
Mustapha gave the advice at a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Maiduguri.
Mustapha expressed gratitude to the military for the efforts in maintaining peace in the state, in spite of numerous suspected Boko Haram attacks in the area.
“We commend the role of the military in fighting the Boko Haram insurgency.
“Your presence has made us to remain in the state.
“Everybody will have fled if not for your presence,” he said.
Ekiti
The National Conscience Party (NCP) has named Mr
Ilesanmi Bankole as its governorship candidate for the June 21, election in Ekiti State.
The announcement came just as INEC closed party primaries in the state.
Our correspondent reports that Bankole, a retired civil servant with the National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE) was elected by a total of 51 ward delegates through a “yes” vote since he was the only aspirant.
The event started with the accreditation of delegates, which lasted for one hour, after which the candidate was nominated and ratified by the entire house.

FCT
The Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (Rtd)
has called for greater collaboration among the armed forces in the fight against insurgents in the country.
Gusau made the call in Abuja at a dinner and award night to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and also to honour the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Badeh, on his elevation.
The minister commended the Nigerian Air Force for its support and participation in “operations” within and outside Nigeria.
He said that the force, in the last 50 years, had proved itself to be a competent force to rely on and reckon with.

Gombe
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
in Gombe State has arrested two suspected traffickers with 7.1 kilogrammes of cocaine.
Mr. Aliyu Adole, Commander of the agency, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Gombe State recently.
He said that one of the suspects was arrested along Gombe-Kano road with the substance which led to the arrest of the other suspect.
“My patrol team intercepted a bus coming from Kano with a young man found with cocaine, in an attempt to question him, he ran into bush before he was arrested.’’
Adole further said that investigation had been concluded, and they would be charged to court for prosecution.
The commandant called on the people of the state to assist the agency with useful information that would lead to the arrest of such people before they destroyed their lives.
He advised parents, traditional and religious leaders to ensure that their children and wards were properly guided.
Kano
The Kano State Government said that it had trained 632
youths on modern poultry farming.
Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who announced this in Kano at the graduation of the trainees, said that the training was organised to empower youths in the state.
The governor said that the beneficiaries were selected from the 44 local government areas and were trained for one week with the aim of eradicating poverty among the youth.
Kwankwaso also presented an economic empowerment package of N129, 000 each to 500 of the trainees.

Kogi
Suspected kidnappers have abducted two of the children
of the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Momoh-Jimoh Lawal.
Our correspondent gathered that the abductors invaded the Speaker’s residence at about 4 a.m., scaled the fence and broke into the house at Okengwe in Okene Local Government Area.
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Speaker, Mr Austin Akubo, told newsmen that three of the abductors entered the house.
“The abductors demanded for the children: Ogirima, 7, and Hafeez, 3, and also made away with other valuables.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board
(SUBEB) says it has concluded arrangement to employ teachers to fill existing vacancies in primary schools in the state.
The Executive Chairman of the board, Malam Abdulkarim Abdullahi, made this known in an interview with newmen in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Abdullahi said that the employment of teachers by the board would help to improve the standard of education in the state and the country at large.
He said Governor Tanko Al-makura had done much to improve the standard of education, especially in the classrooms construction and renovation of the existing ones.

Niger
The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Fati Abubakar,
has ordered the release of four inmates serving various sentences at the Suleja Prisons.
Abubakar released the inmates, who had between four days and two months left to complete their sentences, during her visit to the prison.
The released inmates, Salisu Mohammed, Mohammed Ibrahim, Francis Okon and Lawal Yakubu, had been convicted of offences of theft, joint act, criminal trespass and conspiracy.
Abubakar advised the inmates to be useful to themselves and the society at large and to change from their old ways.
Ogun

The management of Olabisi Onabanjo University
(OOU), Ago-Iwoye, has failed to honour the invitation of the Ogun House of Assembly over the feud between OOU and its medical students.
Our correspondent reports that OOU management was invited over the breakdown of an agreement reached with the final year medical students and their parents on additional school fees.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Saburi Adesanya, at a stakeholders meeting on March 3, was quoted as saying that the graduating medical students, who had paid the mandatory six-year school fees, should pay a “one-off” N40, 000 development levy.
The students claimed that the school had breached an agreement by directing them to pay extra tuition fees to cover the extra time they spent in school.

Plateau
The chairman, Bokkos Local Government Area
of Plateau State, Mr Monday Kassa, has appealed to traditional rulers in the area to ensure peaceful co-existence among all the ethnic groups in their domains.
Kassa made the appeal at a joint peace and reconciliation meeting of Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the area in Bokkos.
The meeting followed the series of clashes recorded in the area in recent times, with the last one occurring in Angwan Kwano community in Maikatako Distrct.
Kassa described as unacceptable, the clashes between herdsmen and farmers as well as the attacks on citizens of the council by unknown gunmen which often claimed lives and property.

Taraba
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC) has called on Taraba State  residents to be vigilant always and report suspicious persons to the security agencies in the state.
The State Commandant of the corps, Mr. Deteer Andy, made the call in Jalingo, at the swearing- in ceremony of the newly-elected officials of NSCDC Cooperative Society in the state.
Andy said that security was everybody’s responsibility and should not be left in the hands of security agents alone.
“It is the responsibility of everybody to report suspected individuals or things around him or her to security agencies for immediate action,” he said.

L-R: Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mr Ismail Alli, Deputy Governor, Moses Adeyemo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, Mr Bayo Fatusi and Senator Emmanuel  Onwe, during former Governor Kalu's visit to the governor in Ibadan recently.

L-R: Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mr Ismail Alli, Deputy Governor, Moses Adeyemo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, Mr Bayo Fatusi and Senator Emmanuel Onwe, during former Governor Kalu’s visit to the governor in Ibadan recently.

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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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