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THE STATES

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L-R: Deputy Vice Chancellor, University  of  Lagos, Prof. Babajide Alao; Guest Lecturer, Prof. Anya O. Anya and a former Minister of  Finance, Dr Kalu  Idika  Kalu, at the 2nd Prof. Eni Njoku Memorial Lecture in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Babajide Alao; Guest Lecturer, Prof. Anya O. Anya and a former Minister of Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, at the 2nd Prof. Eni Njoku Memorial Lecture in Lagos, yesterday.

Adamawa

Staff of Adamawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency
have  staged a peaceful protest in Yola, demanding the payment of their outstanding salaries.
The protesting staff carried placards calling for the removal of the Executive Chairman of the agency, Dr Abdullahi Belel, and the state branch Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Mr Jeremiah Ngwakwar, for allegedly neglecting their welfare.
Spokesman of the protesters, Malam Halilu Ahmed, said since the upgrading of the state primary healthcare department to an agency, the staff had been left in a limbo, and called for Governor Bindow Jibrilla’s personal intervention to address their plight.
Reacting to the development, Belel said the workers were being owed two months’ salaries, and that the problem was caused by the dwindling monthly allocation for local government councils who are responsible for paying the agency workers.

Bauchi
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State says his
administration will be labour-friendly to enable workers carry out their responsibilities with ease.
Abubakar gave the assurance when he received the state officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by its Chairman, Comrade Hashimu Gital in Bauchi.
The NLC delegation was in Government House to present a letter of commendation to the governor from its national secretariat.
He assured that he would pay the outstanding salary arrears inherited from the last administration to ease the hardship being experienced by workers.

Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in
Jigawa has said that it arrested a 23-year-old man for alleged motorcycle theft.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, who made this known in an interview with in Dutse said that the suspect, a resident of Gamayin village in Kafin-Hausa Local Government Area was arrested at Kaban village, in Auyo Local Government Area with the stolen motorcycle.
He said one Usman Hussaini had complained that his Haojeu motorcycle and Gionee cell phone were stolen by suspected thief on August 8 at about 3:30 a.m. at Khandahar Quarters, Hadejia.
The commandant said that investigation revealed that the motorcycle belonged to Hussaini, and added that  the suspect would soon be charged to court.

Kano
The Kano State Government says it is doing everything pos
sible to ensure that its newspaper company, Triumph, is revived to embark on its normal publications.
The state Commissioner for Information, Comrade Muhammed Garba, announced this when he received the state assembly’s committee on information who came on a familiarisation visit to his office.
According to the Garba, the issue of reviving the state-owned newspaper is a priority of the state Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
He said that the priority placed on the issue led the governor to set up a special committee with the responsibility of finding a lasting solution to challenges facing the company.

Katsina
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has urged citizens
to desist from constructing houses on waterways to prevent flood disaster. Masari made the call in an interview with newsmen in Katsina after inspecting some local governments affected by flood disaster, and added that houses constructed along the waterways in Funtua, Malumfashi, Dutsin-ma, Katsina and Daura, would be demolished.
The governor called on district heads and local government chairmen to identify sites where people would be resettled after the demolition of their houses.
Masari maintained that government would not allow its citizens to risk their lives by building houses on waterways, and appealed individuals and corporate organisations to assist flood victims in the state.
Kogi

The Imam of Felele Central Mosque, Malam Abdulla Tahir, has
admonished Nigerians to embrace natural family planning as a potent tool to overcoming unplanned children.
Tahir gave the advice while fielding questions from newsmen in Lokoja on the need for Nigerians to align their lives with economic realities. He enjoined people to only bear children they can adequately cater for, and stated that Nigerians’ greatest undoing was the lack of birth control mechanism in place that has led to the population rise. According to him, without enough job opportunities to match the growing population, the idle mind would become the devil’s workshop.

Lagos
Three men, who allegedly broke into an office and carted away
items valued at N180,000, have been charged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The men — Atunrase oluwaseun, 27; Gabriel Mell, 42; and Segun Kolapo, 41 — are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Joseph Ajebe, told the court that the accused committed the offences on August 5 at about 11.00 p.m. at Biggs Woltop Ventures Ltd, No. 123, Ogba Road.
He noted that the offences contravened Sections 285, 307 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, but the trio pleaded innocence of the offences.

Nasarawa

The Aren Eggon of Nasarawa Eggon in Nasarawa State, Dr
Bala Angbazo, has called on all Nigerians to work genuinely toward achieving peace in troubled parts of the country.
The monarch made the call while playing host to a delegation of the Eggon Muslims Ummah Forum which visited his palace.
The traditional ruler said the call was imperative as the security challenges in the country was festering due to divisive tendencies.
Earlier, the Chairman of the body in the state, Alhaji Zakari Idde, said the visit was to intimate the monarch with the activities of the group which were aimed at promoting peace.

Niger
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and
Control (NAFDAC), has advised mothers to breastfeed their infants exclusively for six months and more for healthy development of their children.
Unit Head of NAFDAC in Niger State, Mr Dadi Mullah,made the call at a one-day workshop for 23 staff of the agency on code of marketing of breast milk substitute in Minna.
Mullah said that scientific research has shown that infancy is the peak age for faltering deficiencies of certain micronutrients and common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea.
He said that in the long term, early nutritional deficits are linked to impairments in intellectual performance, work capacity, reproductive outcomes and overall health during adolescence and childhood.

Ondo

Some residents of Okitipupa in Ondo State, have criticised the
enforcement of the state’s Residency Card tagged “Kaadi Igbeayo’’ imposed by Governor  Olusegun Mimiko-led government.
The state government introduced the cards to store the biometric data of all residents of the state to access social services, and last week announced that all residents in the state must possess the card to access health care, education, electricity, good roads and others.
Some of the residents said that the card was a mere extortion, adding that all social services were obligations of the governments.
They also decried the retrogressive trend of the state in spite of its huge allocations as oil producing state, saying that they had not benefitted enough from the present administration.

Osun

The General Manager, Osun Water Corporation, Mr Gbenga
Owojuyigbe, says the 180 million litre capacity water works at Ede is now ready for the use of the community.
Owojuyigbe, who made the disclosure in an interview with nesmen in Osogbo on Tuesday, assured the people of the state of adequate water supply.
He said the present administration met only one pumping plant at its inception in 2010, and awarded contracts for the immediate rehabilitation of the treatment plant in the community, adding that there is also an order for new pumping plants to make the head works function at its full capacity.
He, however, appealed to the people to reciprocate government’s gesture by paying up their bills at all times.

Oyo

A Soil Microbiologist at the Institute of Agricultural Research
and Training (IAR &T), Ibadan, Prof. Lateef Taiwo,  says that application of untreated waste to the soil can lead to its infertility. Taiwo told newsmen in Ibadan on Tuesday that agricultural, industrial and domestic wastes were dangerous to farmers’ productivity.
He said that agricultural and domestic wastes should be processed before their application to the soil.
According to him, industrial wastes must pass through the treatment plants before being discharged.

Plateau

The Rotary Club District 9125, has donated various items to
the Open Doors Special Education Centre, Jos.
The centre is one of the special schools in Jos providing special education for children and youths with intellectual disability.
The District Governor, Dr Mike Omotosho, said the donation, was aimed at touching the lives of the needy in the society, adding that the supplies comprised of tissue papers, detergents, hand-gloves, antiseptic, diapers, thermometer, among others.
According to him, the objective of the club is to render selfless service to the needy in the society, adding that Rotary Club is not an elitist club. The President of Rotary Club of Jos Central, Mrs Laide Lawal, earlier in her remarks, said the supplies were based on a request from the authorities of the school.

Sokoto

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto
State, Alhaji Abdullahi Bafarawa, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to set up special courts to handle cases of treasury looting. He also urged the president to appoint God-fearing judges to try the cases, and added that prosecuting those who stole public funds would serve as lesson for others with similar motives. He advised that only fearless and courageous judges should be given the responsibility to try persons that would be indicted for looting the nation’s funds.
Bafarawa commended Buhari for the bold steps being taken to recover the nation’s money from corrupt public officers.

Yobe

The Yobe State Government said it had rehabilitated over 300
classrooms and provided infrastructure in schools destroyed by insurgents across the state “to avoid gaps in the system”.
The Director of Press to the state Governor, Mr Abdullahi Bego, who said this in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu, added that the state government had made education and health care a priority.
He said the College of Education, Gashua, had received similar support and was producing over 1,000 NCE and 100 degree graduates fully qualified for teaching in schools.

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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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