Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

October 17, 2014

FCT

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC)
says it will officially inaugurate the 2014 Christian pilgrimage to Israel on Saturday, October 18, commencing with pilgrims from FCT.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr John-Kennedy Opara, said this during a news briefing ahead of the transportation of the first set of 250 pilgrims on Saturday.
Opara said that the commission planned to transport and could even surpass its target of 30,000 intending pilgrims during this year’s exercise which would end in December.
He said the commission had put all necessary measures in place to ensure a hitch-free pilgrimage and urged the media to collaborate with the commission in sensitising intending pilgrims.
“The good news is that come October 18, 2014, we will commence the airlifting of the 2014 intending pilgrims to Israel as approved by Mr President.

Gombe

The new Vice-Chancellor of Gombe State Univer
sity, Prof. Ibrahim Musa-Umar, has advised the institution’s academic and non-academic staff to work together to uplift the university.
Musa-Umar gave the advice while taking over the affairs of the institution from the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Mahdi, in Gombe.
He called on the staff to make more efforts to ensure academic excellence and discipline in the university.
He assured the government and people of the state, as well as staff and students of the university that he would sustain the success recorded by his predecessor.
The vice-chancellor lauded his predecessor for laying a solid foundation which made the institution a force to be reckoned with in spite of the challenges he encountered.

Kaduna

Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State says
he would re-contest for the gubernatorial seat of the state in 2015.
Yero said this in Kafanchan, Kafanchan Local Government Area, Kaduna State, through his deputy, Mr Nuhu Bajoga, while on a visit to traditional rulers in Southern Kaduna.
Yero said he had since obtained nomination form from the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.
He urged the people to disregard any insinuation that he would be stopped from contesting in the election, saying such speculations were aimed at misleading the public.

Kano

The Kano State Government last Tuesday at the
ongoing National Agricultural Show in Nasarawa State has displayed some exotic wildlife such as lion, hyena, pythons, ostriches and crocodile.
These animals from the Kano State Zoological and Wildlife Management Agency, added an aesthetic flare to the show as many participants trooped to the Kano pavilion to see these wild animals.
Different species of other commonly found animals such as tortoise, antelopes and vultures were also on display to show wildlife diversity in the state.
The Deputy Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Kano State Zoological and Wildlife Management Agency, Mr Mohammed Ado, said the agency was committed to wildlife preservation.

Kwara

Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed of Kwara State has re
quested the state House of Assembly to confirm the appointment of Mr Emmanuel Kolo as the new Auditor-General for Local Government.
The governor made the request in a message to the House, read by the Speaker, Mr Rasak Atunwa, during a plenary.
Ahmed said the request conformed with the constitution.
Also during the plenary, the Deputy Speaker, Prof. Gana Yoissa, while seconding a motion for an adjournment, criticised metrological agencies for failure to give adequate information on weather forcast.

Nasarawa

A 30-year-old Abuja-based hair stylist, Becky Solomon,
who allegedly stole N50,000 and also escaped from lawful custody, has been arraigned in a Grade 1 Area Court, Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
The accused, who resides at Karu, FCT is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and escape from lawful custody.
According to the prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji, the accused, together with one Victoria Adeky who is still at large, committed the offences at 11: 45 p.m. on October 6, at Karu, Abuja.
Adaji told the court that the accused stole the sum of N50, 000 from a customer, Mrs Rose Adams who came to make her hair.
“Becky stole the money from the customer’s purse in the salon when she stepped out to make a call,” he alleged.

Ondo

The police in Ondo State has arraigned a 36-year-old
trainee driver, Kayode Akinbuwa, in an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court for alleged manslaughter.
The accused, whose address and occupation are unknown, was arraigned on a five-count charge of manslaughter, dangerous driving as well as driving without car particulars, road worthiness certificate and driver’s licence.
The prosecutor, Insp Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that the accused drove a Toyota Carina car marked HS 134 EKY dangerously on a public highway and caused the death of a 65 -year old farmer, Ebunola Iji.
Orogbemi said that the farmer was returning from his farm on September 19 at about 1.30 p.m. on the Erinje-Ayeka road in Okitipupa.
The prosecutor said the accused committed an offence contrary to sections 5, 6, 10(2), 10(4) and 10(5) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap. F13, Vol. VI, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Ogun

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Prof. Olusoga Olusanya, Ijebu-Ode, has been kidnapped.
Our correspondents gathered that Olusanya was on his way back from the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, when he was abducted by unknown gunmen last Monday evening.
He was said to have visited FUNAAB where he served as an external invigilator at the ongoing postgraduate examination when he was ambushed on a bad portion of the Sagamu/Ore expressway.
The don was abducted alongside his driver, with the latter dropped by the abductors on the highway at Odogbolu.
The news of the abduction of the DVC forced the university Senate to abruptly postpone its emergency meeting earlier scheduled for Tuesday.

Oyo

The Yoruba Youths Congress (YYC), a socio-cultural
group, last Tuesday announced its endorsement of Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.
The National Leader of the group, Olalekan Hammed announced this to newsmen in Ibadan.
Hammed said that the group believed Buhari was good enough to fly the APC presidential flag, having considered his past records.
“Retired General Buhari is an attested disciplinarian who was able to curtail corruption during his regime as the Head of State of the nation between 1983 and 1985.
“His landmarks as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) are also still very evident in tertiary institutions of learning in the country,” he said.

Plateau

The Chairman of Riyom Local Government in Plateau
State, Mrs Josephine Piyo, has said that 27 people died in an attack by gunmen on Bachi District of the area on Thursday.
She said a joint team of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on visit to the area that the attackers torched 70 houses and left them in rubbles.
Represented by the Council Secretary, Mr. Alex Kundang, the chairman said the attack also led to the displacement of no fewer than 3,520 people from their homes.
She said those displaced were currently staying at different camps for Internally Displaced Persons in the area.
Piyo described the situation as pathetic and that urgent national attention was needed to address the situation as the attacks on Riyom people had become recurrent.

Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Othniel Likkason (left), presenting a gift to the best student of Immaculate Conception Secondary School (icss), Miss Ruth Enekhai, during the school’s graduation in Bauchi, 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.