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THE STATES

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11 years ago

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Borno
The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zannah
Mustapha, has commended the efforts of security agencies to end insurgency in the country.
Mustapha made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
He expressed optimism that the insurgency would end soon “going by the successes recorded by the military in its bid to flush out the insurgents”.
Mustapha said last week’s attack on Biu by the insurgents was a sign of desperation, noting that they had failed in previous attempts to gain entry into the town, hence the use of suicide bomb attack.
He commended youth vigilantes, local hunters and members of the community for keeping vigil against the insurgents especially in Biu.
“The military has been working in concert with vigilantes and other groups in safeguarding lives and properties in Biu.
“As it is now, it is very difficult for the insurgents to carry out attacks easily, so they have resorted to using female suicide bombers,” he said.

FCT

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
has advised politicians to invest their time and resources in positive strategies of winning elections rather than buying Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from prospective voters.
The Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Mr. Nick Dazang, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja following a claim that politicians were buying cards and collecting their numbers.
Dazang said it was also advisable for politicians to use their time well in other endeavours that would help the political processes instead  collecting Voter Identification Number (VIN) of registered voters.
He said buying people’s PVCs would be of no help as the cards could not be used by another person other than the original owners.
“Politicians should encourage those who have not collected to go and collect their PVCs.
“I don’t know of any implication of collecting people’s VIN numbers; they are just wasting their times,” he said.

Kebbi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
National Commissioner, Hajia Amina Zakari,  has reiterated the commission’s determination to announce the presidential and governorship elections within 48 hours after voting.
She stated this in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi, during a public sensitisation and practical demonstration of accreditation and election processes.
Zakari said that the demonstration was to enable the commission to make amendments in areas of difficulty.
According to her, the demonstration will also enable electoral officers to be familiar with the process of accreditation and smooth election.
She appealed to registered voters to ensure they were in queue on time for accreditation, assuring them that collation of votes would be done properly after voting.

Kogi

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has
again explained that the rationing of power in Lokoja and other areas of its coverage was necessitated by low volume energy available for distribution.
The Manager, Public Relations of AEDC, Mr Ahmed Shekarau, said this while fielding questions from newsmen in Lokoja.
Shekarau said that it was not the wish of the company to ration power supply in its coverage area but was being forced to do so.
“The AEDC is being allocated 11.5 per cent of total energy available daily for distribution to customers nationwide.
“This volume, which reaches 450 mega watts even at peak generation periods, is insufficient to meet the demands of the company’s customers in FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States.
“The AEDC is, however, optimising its load-shedding to address part of the problem in the short term.

Lagos

A lawmaker representing Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal
Constituency in Oyo State, Olayemi Busari, said that he donated four 500 KVA transformers to communities in his constituency on February 14.
Busari, an Accord Party (AP) member, told newsmen in Lagos that the projects were part of the promises he made to the people during his electioneering campaigns.
He said that the benefiting communities were Aba Otun Area Ward 8 and Oke- Imole in the Olunloyo area of the Ona-Ara Local Government Area.
Others were the Amosun Community Ward 7 and Ogunkola Avenue, Hope area, Alakia, Old Ife road in the Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Busari said that he donated the transformers on Valentine’s Day, to show his love for his people, and urged them to reciprocate the love by supporting his candidacy in the March 28 elections.

Nasarawa

A nutritionist at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia,
Nasarawa State Mrs. Julie John, has advised mothers to give proper diet to their babies to avoid malnutrition.
John gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lafia.
According to her, after six months of exclusive breast feeding, mothers are expected to start introducing highly nutritious foods to their babies so as to avert malnutrition.
“From birth to six months, we encourage mothers to go on exclusive breast feeding.
“Where the problem starts is the six months that the mother is supposed to introduce other feeds to her baby. That is when most of the time we have problems of malnutrition,’’ she said.

Ogun

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said that it was
collaborating with Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) to reduce gridlocks in Sango-Ota and its environs.
The Sango-Ota Unit Commander of the FRSC, Mr Olonisaye Olufemi, disclosed this to newsmen in Ota.
He noted that heavy traffic gridlocks were being experienced at the Toll-gate, Ojuore, Sango-Ota under bridge, especially on Sundays when worshippers going to Living Faith Church, Ota, drove against the traffic.
“The worshippers contributed immensely to gridlocks between 5.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. by increasing vehicle movement to the areas,” Olufemi said.
On his part, the Zonal Commander of TRACE, Mr Adekunle Ajibade, said that it would deploy manpower to those trouble areas to assist FRSC staff to decongest traffic jams.
Ajibade said that it would also bring a tow truck that would be used to clear obstruction by vehicles, especially commercial buses.
Osun

Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori,
has ordered the closure of Government Technical College, Osogbo, and Osogbo High School, indefinitely over disturbances by the students.
Our correspondent reports that some students of Government Technical College, Osogbo and Osogbo High School embarked on a protest recently.
This is contained in a statement signed by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Mr Lawrence Oyeniran, .
The statement said that the closure was to curtail any further disturbances in the schools.
It advised parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to stay away from acts capable of causing public disturbance.

Oyo

Oyo State Coordinator, National Agency for Food
and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mr. Benjamin Haruna, said that the agency had sanctioned more than 1,000 offenders in the state.
Haruna disclosed this to newsmen in Ibadan at a send-forth organised for him by the staff and stakeholders of NAFDAC in the state.
According to him, the offences ranged from series of unregistered products, sales of outright fake products, parallel importation and unsatisfactory factory productions.
Haruna said that the agency would not relent in its effort to combat unwholesome and fake products.

Yobe

The National Council of Women Society (NCWS) has
urged women in Yobe to aspire for more elective positions to ensure that their voice was heard in the democratic process.
The state President of the society, Hajiya Halima Joda, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
“I want to use this medium to call on all women in Yobe State to mobilise both rural and urban women to take active participation in the political process.
“Considering our numerical strength if we properly harness our potential, we can aspire for more elective positions and win,’’ Joda said.
Joda said that active participation of women in politics would eliminate all forms of marginalisation and intimidation against women seeking elective positions in the state.
The president said that when women hold elective positions it would enable them to mainstream gender issues in government policies.
She noted that women were underrepresented in the state despite their proven abilities as leaders and agents of change, and their right to participate equally in democratic governance.

L-R: Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, at the turbaning of Governor Muhtar Yero of Kaduna State as Dallatun Zazzau in Zaria, Kaduna State recently.

L-R: Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, at the turbaning of Governor Muhtar Yero of Kaduna State as Dallatun Zazzau in Zaria, Kaduna State recently.

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REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

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1 month ago

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June 29, 2026

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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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1 month ago

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June 29, 2026

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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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1 month ago

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June 29, 2026

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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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