Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

October 27, 2014

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government would soon take over the
management of some community schools in the state, the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu has said.
Speaking on Friday in Bauchi during a meeting with members of the Parent-Teachers-Association (PTA), Zaranda Community Secondary School, Aminu said the take over of the community schools by the government was informed by its decision to ensure smooth running of the schools.
He revealed that the government had earlies posted some teachers to head such schools to ensure that government policies pertaining to education were implemented in those schools and warned that government would not pay compensation for lands where such schools were sited either for expansion or further development.
The commissioner, who told the Zaranda community that their school was among those schools that would be taken over by government, added that a standing committee had been appointed to assess the school to enable it to know its status.
Kano

Kano State Government has solicited for collective ef-S
forts in total eradication of polio in the state, saying it is a social responsibility.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, made the call at a press conference held at the ministry to mark the World Polio Day celebrated annually on October 24.
The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Dahiru Musa, said that the ministry had organised a rally to celebrate all those committed to the fight against polio.
The Special Adviser to the government on Disabled, Alhaji Usman Yahya, who doubled as a member of the Polio Survivors Association, commended the efforts of the his fellow members.
The Director Primary Health and Disease Control of the Ministry, Dr Nasiru Mahmud, said the state government had spent over N140 million in the past year to strengthen routine immunisation in the state.

Kaduna

The Chief Imam of Nupe Central Mosque, Kaduna,
Malam Muhammad Nafi’u, on Friday urged Nigerians to pray for the success of the 2015 general elections.
Nafi’u who made the call after the Friday congregational prayers in Kaduna, said the prayers would help in restoring the faith of Nigerians, adding, “prayer is the solution to problems; It will also strengthen the country’s unity.’’
He called on politicians to play politics with maturity, shun sectarianism and focus on what would bring unity among the people.
The clergyman said that politicians should see themselves as servants of the people and the youths to shun violence during campaigns.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair and credible polls in the forthcoming general elections.
Nafi’u reiterated that both Muslims and Christians should pray for the peace, unity and harmony of the country.

Katsina

The Musawa Local Government Council in Katsina State
said it has earmarked N4 million for the rehabilitation of boreholes and semi-urban water schemes in the area.
The Council Chairman, Alhaji Tanimu Kira, disclosed this on Friday while handing over the working tools to the council’s Director of Water and Sanitation, Alhaji Adamu Hussaini-Garu.
Kira said the initiative was aimed at improving potable water supply in the area to safeguard public health adding that boreholes’ spare parts and other tools for the project were supplied through a committee established by the council.
He said the exercise would be handled through direct labour by the water and sanitation department, in collaboration with community water supply voluntary groups.
Kebbi

The Kebbi Command of the National Drug Law Enforce
ment Agency (NDLEA), on Friday promised to collaborate with the state Ministry of Information and Culture to fight drug abuse and human trafficking.
The Commandant of the agency in the state, Mr Okon Ulo, who gave the promise when he visited the ministry said that the command would establish a joint drug abuse control committee with the ministry.
The commandant said the ministry’s role in information dissemination was very vital, which underscored the importance of the partnership stating that the NDLEA would continue to rehabilitate drug offenders to make them fit back into the society.
The state Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Shehu Sambawa, assured NDLEA of the support of the ministry in the fight against drug abuse and drug trafficking.
Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command said on Friday it
had arrested 23 suspects and recovered four stolen vehicles, arms, ammunitions, charms and other items recovered from them..
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Ismaila Numan disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Lafia.
Numan said items recovered from the suspects include; “One AK 47 Rifle, eight locally made pistols, two live cartridges and two rounds of live ammunition. “Others are one Hilux bus, one Vectra and two end-of -discussion Honda Accord, cutlass, face mask and police uniform among others.”
He said that five of the suspects were arrested for alleged armed robbery, eight for alleged rape, seven for alleged criminal conspiracy, one for alleged mischief and two arrested for illegal possession of arms.
Numan commended the public for supplying information to the command, saying that was responsible for the achievement it recorded.

Oyo

The Executive Director, Human of Substance Empower
ment Initiative(HOSEI), an NGO, Miss Abiola Abiade, said on Saturday that only youths with different vocational skills would survive economic hardship.
Abiade who said this in Ibadan at the graduation ceremony of 20 youths sponsored by the NGO on a three-month vocational training programme declared that the organisation was ready to contribute its quota toward women and girl child empowerment.
The Chairperson of MAGI, Alhaja Tawa Malik, congratulated the graduands for completing the programme and explained that MAGI was engaged in sensitising women and the girl child against societal ills such as human trafficking.
Plateau

The Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) said it
would commence the installation of speed limiting device in commercial vehicles in the country from June, 2015.
The Sector Commander of the commission in Plateau, Mr Sunday Maku, who made this known on Friday in Jos at the commission’s “ember months” sensitization campaign, said that the measure was among others being taken to minimise road traffic crashes across the country.
Maku also decried the violation of traffic regulations by drivers “who consistently use phones, drive against traffic lanes, and overtake at bends and corners” and warned that offenders would be sanctioned.
In his remarks, Mr Jonah Emor, Chairman, Plateau chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, thanked FRSC for its sustained efforts to minimise road crashes in the country.

Taraba

A group of veteran labour leaders in Taraba on Satur-
day advised members of the Nigeria Labour Congress against engaging in partisan politics.
The spokesperson for the group, Alhaji Faruk Waziri, gave the advice at a news conference organised by the former labour leaders in Jalingo.
According to him, the independence and sanctity of labour union can only be preserved through political neutrality.
“We are compelled to issue a stern warning to labour unions, individuals or organisations against endorsing or aligning themselves with any political candidate,” he said.

Zamfara

The United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), Kaduna field office, has commended the efforts of Zamfara Government in its fight against poliomyelitis.
UNICEF Communications Officer, Alhaji Rabiu Musa, at an occasion to mark this year’s World Polio Day in the state, described the measures put in place by the state government as “remarkable and worthy of emulation by all”.
He said that if the state government maintained the tempo, the issue of poliomyelitis would soon be history in the state.
In his contribution, the representative of WHO, Alhaji Yusuf Argungu, urged parents in the state to continue to present their children for immunisation against the six child-killer diseases.

Governor Sule Lamido (left) of Jigawa with the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi during Sallah Dutse on yesterday.

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.