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L-R: Archdeacon, Diocese of Lagos West Anglican Communion, Venerable Christopher Ayejoto, Celebrant and Director,  Finance and Account, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Mr Okeowo Oderinde, Special Guest, Mrs Adetoun Henry-Ajomale, celebrant’s wife, Mrs Atinuke and Priest, Anglican Communion, Revd.  Kayode Okun, at the 2015 Family Harvest of the Anglican Communion in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Archdeacon, Diocese of Lagos West Anglican Communion, Venerable Christopher Ayejoto, Celebrant and Director, Finance and Account, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Mr Okeowo Oderinde, Special Guest, Mrs Adetoun Henry-Ajomale, celebrant’s wife, Mrs Atinuke and Priest, Anglican Communion, Revd. Kayode Okun, at the 2015 Family Harvest of the Anglican Communion in Lagos, yesterday.

Adamawa
The Adamawa Government is to launch enlightenment posters
on the ongoing fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
The state Commissioner of Information, Malam Ahmad Sajoh, disclosed this in Yola in an interview with newsmen.
Sajoh said the enlightenment programme being spearheaded by the ministry involved educating the public on how to identify Boko Haram suspects, particularly suicide bombers.
The commissioner lauded the relative peace in the state since the last bombing incident that took place more than one month ago.
He also commended the people of the state for complying with the security directives issued by the government.
“Since the last bombing incident on Nov. 10, we have recorded relative peace in the state.
“We have reviewed the security situation and we are satisfied with the level of compliance with security measures by the public.”

Ekiti
An Ikole-Ekiti Customary Court has dissolved a one-year old
marriage between Ayodele Olukayode and his wife, Kikelomo, over the wife’s lack of proper care for the husband.
The husband had sought for divorce in a suit filed against his wife on November 17 on the grounds that the 12-month-old union had broken down irretrievably.
Olukayode told the court that he sought for divorce because his wife had adopted a negative lifestyle.
He added that his wife had no respect for him, other members of his family, and was always fighting him on minor domestic issues.
The plaintiff further told the court that there was no child between them.
Kikelomo, however, denied the allegation against her, saying that she cared for the plaintiff and gave due respect to him and his family.
FCT
President, Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Services of Ni
geria, Mr Ashamu Fadipe, has called on the Federal Government to review the Tourism Master Plan which was produced in 2006.
Fadipe, a former Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on the sidelines of a workshop tagged: “Mainstreaming Tourism into Economic Agenda of Government”.
The workshop was organised by the Department of Domestic and Eco-Tourism Promotion and Control, Federal Ministry of Information and culture, Abuja.
“In 2006, Nigeria produced a Tourism Development Master Plan; the master plan articulates the tourism resources of the country ranging from natural endowments, cultural and historical resources.
“This was divided into five tourism clusters for the purpose of development and making it a preferred tourism destination in Africa.
“In each of the clusters, there is a flagship project proposed and this flagship was never done in any of the five clusters,’’ he said.

Jigawa
A member of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kais
Abdallah, has donated 100 mattresses to the General Hospital, Malammadori.
Abdallah disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Malammadori.
The legislator, who represents Malammadori constituency, said he had also donated pillows, blankets and blood pressure test kits to the hospital.
He said he was also planning to distribute drugs and consumables to the 23 health facilities in the area.
“We are taking assessment needs of the clinics to assist them with drugs and equipment,” he said.

Kebbi
Deputy Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, Alhaji
Buhari Aliero, said that he had distributed 90 forms for admission into tertiary institutions to indigent students in his constituency.
Aliero stated this in an interview with newsmen in Aliero.
He said that the gesture was to promote educational zeal in indigent children in his Aliero constituency.
He disclosed that he gave out 50 University Matriculation Examination forms and 30 other forms for those seeking admission into the state-owned school of Nursing and Health Technology.
Aliero said that if the students gained admission, they would receive monthly allowance from him while in school.
He said that his gesture was based on the fact that education remained the bedrock of development of any society, adding that it was, therefore imperative for him to contribute to human capital development through such assistance.
Lagos
An Igando Customary Court in Lagos saved a 40-year-old
marriage between Mrs Margret Kehinde ,60, and her septuagenarian husband, Francis Kehinde , over alleged infidelity.
Our correspondet reports that the Court President, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, after several adjournments and interventions, successfully resolved the marital differences between the couple.
Omilola admonished the respondent to turn a new leaf and he urged the couple to maintain peace.
“I urged both of you to go home and continue to love each other and live in peace.” he said.
Mrs Margret Kehinde, 60 and a trader, had pleaded with the court to end her 40-year-old marriage over her husband’s infidelity.
The petitioner said that her 70-year-old husband, Francis, for whom she bore four children, was fond of bringing several women into their matrimony home.
“My husband comes home with different women and they sleep on our matrimonial bedroom, and he will tell me to excuse them by relocating to the guest room.”

Nasarawa
The Police have arraigned a commercial driver, Bitrus Matthew,
38, in a Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court on a three-count-charge of mischief, breach of trust and cheating.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji, told the court that the complainant, Cpl. Friday Enumaje, attached to ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, reported the matter on December 12.
Adaji said that the complainant entrusted his Toyota Camry car to the accused for commercial purpose, with an agreement of remitting N15, 000 weekly.
He said that the accused used the car for two weeks, and did not remit the money as agreed, instead he ran away with the said car to an unknown destination.
The prosecutor said that the accused was seen on December 9 with the car and he was arrested.
He said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 327, 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.
The accused denied committing the crime.
The Presiding Judge, Mr Albert Maga, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 and a surety in the like sum.

Ogun
The Ogun State Commissioner for Housing, Mrs
Oluwasegun Abiodun said on Thursday that the ministry proposed N3.74 billion as its capital expenditure for the 2016 fiscal year.
Abiodun spoke while defending the ministry’s 2016 budget proposal before the Ogun House of Assembly in Abeokuta.
The commissioner also said that the ministry proposed 10 hectares of housing estates in 12 locations across the state.
He listed the locations as Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ifo, Ijebu-Ode, and Ado- Odo Ota, among others.
“In terms of urban renewal, the ministry intends to embark on the urbanisation of Akute Isheri area of the state in the next fiscal year; the project is termed `Mitros City’ development.
“As part of the state government’s efforts towards industrialisation, housing project is a dedicated infrastructure in order to attract new business at Agbara Industrial Estates, “she said.
Osun
Two men, Olarewaju Omokehinde,50, and Abode Adigun, 38,
were on Thursday arraigned in an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court, over alleged N800,000 fraud.
Omokehinde and Adigun, of no fixed addresses, are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Lamide Rasak, told the court that the accused persons committed the offences on April 14 at about 12:00p.m. along Omokehinde St. in Osogbo.
Rasak said the accused persons tricked one Mr Kayode Lawal by obtaining N800,000 from him with promise to lease a building to him for business activities.
He said the offences contravened Sections 422, 421 and 383 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. 11, Laws of Osun, 2003.
The accused persons denied committing the offences.
The defence counsel, Mr Beatrice Akande, prayed the court to grant the accused persons bail in liberal terms.

Oyo
Govwenoe Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said NYSC members
must contribute to national unity and cohesion for Nigeria to achieve the dreams of its founding fathers.
Ajimobi said this at the close of the orientation course for the Batch ‘B’ Corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp on the Iseyin-Okeho road.
Represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Alake-Adeyemo, Ajimobi advised the corps members to keep Nigeria as one indivisible nation.
“I commend your patriotism and commitment to duty since the beginning of your orientation about three weeks ago.
“ It shows that you are ready to ensure that Nigeria remains one and by God’s grace nothing will separate us.

Plateau
The Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in Plateau
State has confirmed the killing of 12 persons in an attack on Kwata community in Jos South Local Government.
Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, STF Spokesperson, told the newsmen in Jos that several others were injured in the attack that took place recently.
Iweha said that the STF personnel rushed to the area of the attack when it was alerted but the perpetrators had disappeared.
“By the time we arrived there, the attackers had carried out their heinous act and left; we just evacuated the injured and the dead and rushed them to Plateau Hospital, where health officials confirmed 12 persons dead.

Zamfara
The Zamfara State Government last Thursday said it had spent
N58 billion on rural electrification and semi-urban water projects.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Alhaji Muttaka Rini, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Gusau.
Rini said N41 billion was spent on the provision of electricity to 80 rural communities, while the remaining N17 billion was committed to semi-urban water scheme across the state.
He said the projects were executed in collaboration with the 14 local government councils of the state, which contributed 50 percent of the project cost.
He said the state government would continue to execute meaningful projects to improve quality of lives of the people in rural areas.

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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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