Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

September 4, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari (5th right), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (5th left), Chairman, Centenary City Board, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (4th right) and Board members of Centenary City, during their meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja recently. Photo: NAN

Bauchi
Some disengaged staff of National Identity Management Commis
sion (NIMC) resident in Bauchi, have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene for them to be paid their complete entitlements.
Making the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi, their spokesperson, Malam Idris Balarabe, said following the controversy surrounding the manner of their disengagement, the then National Assembly, under the leadership of David Mark and Waziri Tambuwal intervened.
“After joint consultation between House of Representative and Senate, an agreement was reached in 2013 that each disengaged staff be paid one year salary as take home severance allowance.
“Up till now, we are yet to be settled or reinstated.
“We believe that the Almighty God, would guide Mr President and give him the gracious mind to consider our plight , as well as give it the urgent attention it deserves,” said Balarabe.

Ekiti
An Ikole Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti State yesterday sentenced two
landlords, Omoniyi Ajayi and Ola Olowolafe to five and seven months jail term respectively, for violating environmental sanitation laws.
The Magistrate, Mrs A.S. Okunbule, however, gave the landlords option of N5,500 and N7,000 fines respectively.
Our correspondent reports that the convicts first appeared in court on Aug. 25 on charges bordering on failure to provide toilets, indiscriminate defecation, among others.
Mr Tunde Famuyisan, prosecuting officer, Environmental Health and Sanitation, Ikole Local Government, said the landlords owned houses located at No.101, Oke-Owa St. and No. 2, Ilado St. Odo Ayedun Ekiti, respectively.
FCT
The Head Teacher, FCT School for the Blind, Mrs Regina Dung,has
decried the high cost of learning materials for blind students in the country.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Dung said that these materials were not available in the open market and cost a lot of money to order them from the specialised stores.
“Their learning materials is on the high side — braille machines, braille paper, a slate and stylus — they are not just in the open market where you just walk into and buy anything.
“All these are materials that we use in teaching the blind, even the stylus, which is used for mathematics, is not in the open market.
“You have to place order in designated stores which are located only in Jos and Lagos.
“For example, their biro costs N1, 000; but if it is foreign, it goes for N1,500 compared to the N20 biro of the regular students.’’
Gombe
Hope Spring International, an NGO, said it has spent over N6million
to construct boreholes to provide water for some communities in Gombe South and Central Senatorial Districts.
Mr Rambi Ayala, Director of Operations of the NGO, stated this on Thursday in Ladongor-Lawampe and Powishi-Amtadwang villages of Billiri Local Government Area where two boreholes were declared open.
Ayala, who is currently the member representing Billiri East Constituency at the Gombe State House of Assembly, said 15 boreholes were constructed by the NGO in three years.
He said that the boreholes were part of the humanitarian services of the organisation.
“We are preparing to do more in the coming months,” he said.
Jigawa
Association for the Advancement of Women in Nigeria (ASSAWIN),
yesterday organised a one-day sensitisation workshop for pregnant women, nursing mothers and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), in Birninkudu local government area, Jigawa.
The Programme Manager of the NGO in the state, Miss Chinelo Amechina, told newsmen in Birninkudu that the programme was aimed at promoting safe motherhood and safe delivery among women in the area.
She said the effort was also to improve on the livelihood of women and children in the council.
The manager explained that the beneficiaries were drawn from Chiako, Birninkudu and Babaldu towns, respectively.
According to her, the beneficiaries include 80 pregnant and nursing women, 15 men (husbands) and 15 TBAs.
Kaduna
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has called on
stakeholders to support the efforts at standardising vocational training in line with global best practices.
This call is contained in a statement signed by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Gwarzo, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna yesterday.
The statement stated that the standard in skills acquisition and vocations could be achieved through the National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF).
According to the statement, NVQF is an instrument for the development, classification and recognition of skills, knowledge and competence acquired by citizens through various trainings and skills acquisition.

Katsina
Katsina State Government has ordered that all structures on water
ways and grave yards encroaching on the road across the state should be demolished.
Chairman of the Special Sanitation Taskforce in the state, Alhaji Aminu Danarewa, announced the directive yesterday during a visit to Dandutse grave yard and waste disposal centres in Funtua.
Danarewa said that the visit was part of the ongoing three-day special sanitation exercise embarked upon by the state government.
He directed the Director of Finance and Administration of Funtua Local Government Council, Alhaji Bishir Maikano, to compile the lists of ‘’offensive’’ structures which would be demolished in the area
Danarewa, who is also the Special Assistant to the state governor on Sports Development, said that his committee had the mandate to carry out the demolition.
Kogi
A Lokoja-based legal practitioner, Mr Joel Usman, has commended
the anti corruption posture of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Usman, who gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Lokoja yesterday, said that the effort had positive influence on all the sectors of the nation’s economy.
He said that the gains of the government’s anti-corruption crusade could be seen in improved power sector.
Usman said that the effort had also paid off as ‘’everyone is sitting up including the anti-graft agencies.”
“In NNPC, some of the refineries that were not working for some years have started working at almost optimum capacity without any major repairs,’’ he said.

Lagos
Gov.ernorAkinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has promised to sup
port massive investment in modern medical equipment to meet the health challenges of residents of the state.
Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, made the promise at the inauguration of Clinix Healthcare, an Ultramodern Diagnostic Centre in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
He said that private sector participation in healthcare delivery, had complemented efforts of government and yielded tremendous dividends through qualitative healthcare.
“We are delighted that the private sector partnership has yielded another state-of-the-art health facility, with the opening of this ultramodern diagnostic centre.”

Nasarawa
The Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof.
Mohammed Mainoma,has commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for providing funds for educational advancement in the institution.
Mainoma lauded the fund in an interview with newsmen in Keffi yesterday.
He said that the special intervention from TETFUND and Presidential intervention fund had not only changed the physical structure of the university positively, but the academic activities of the institution through staff training and execution of infrastructural development.
He said: “The university management is working tirelessly to ensure that it lifted up the institution to a world class standard, that is why the university is embarking on projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the students and staff for the benefit of all.
“All these efforts of infrastructural development is geared towards achieving academic excellence and to create more conducive environment so as to uplift the university to international standard and to enhance teaching and researching, among others.

Niger
The Niger State Government says it has commercialised
the services of the state’s cultural troupe.
The Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mr Kabir Danasabe, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Minna yesterday.
Danasabe said that the action was taken in order to expand the scope of the troupe as well as increase internally generated revenue.
“The state cultural troupe before now entertained people with little or no fee while government invests huge amount of money to keep them going. This cannot go on forever.
“We made the hiring of the state troupe a full commercial venture in order to attract revenue for government.

Ogun
No fewer than 14 persons were yesterday confirmed dead
in two separate accidents at Ogunmakin on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Our correspondent reports that the accidents occurred on Wednesday and Thursday in the early hours of the morning.
The first one, which occurred on Wednesday at about 4:05 a.m., involved two vehicles and claimed 10 lives.
Eyewitnesses said a trailer with registration number LSR 392 SB loaded with cows and more than 27 passengers collided with another trailer marked XE 444 KTU.
The eyewitnesses said a total of 30 people were involved in the crash with 20 injured while 10 were confirmed dead at Ifeoluwa hospital in Ogunmakin.

Osun
An Osogbo High Court has fixed September 15 for definite
hearing in the suit filed by Justice Folahanmi Oloyede against the Speaker of Osun Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, and 10 others.
Justice Aderibigbe Adebayo adjourned the matter for definite hearing in a short ruling yesterday.
He ordered counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Lukman Ogunsetan, to serve the defence counsel with the petition personally before the adjourned date.
Earlier, counsel to the respondents, Messers Adewole Afolabi, Surajudeen Ajibola and Adedapo Adeniji had told the court that Ogunsetan did not serve their clients petition personally.

Zamfara
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),
has expressed its readiness to forcibly evacuate over 2,000 household in Gangare, Zamfara, to avoid casualty in case of flood.
The NEMA’s Coordinator in-charge of Sokoto Operations Office, Mr Thickman Tanimu, made the disclosure in Gusau, in an interview with newsmen.
He explained that the household would be evacuated from Gangare area near river Gusau, in the state capital.
Tanimu said that the agency had organised training for stakeholders in disaster management on the importance of waste management and flood mitigation.
“Based on the report we received from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) the state government had over ten years ago directed the people to vacate the area.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

3 weeks 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

3 weeks 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

3 weeks 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.