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THE STATES

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Representative of the Acting Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (nan), Hajiya Kahdijat Lawal (right), presenting a souvenir to  the  National Publicity Secretary, International Federation of  Women Lawyers (fida), Princess Frank-Chukwani (left) and the fida National Secretary, Mrs Rhoda Tyoden-Moore, during the visit of fida delegation to nan headquarters in Abuja, recently.

Representative of the Acting Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (nan), Hajiya Kahdijat Lawal (right), presenting a souvenir to the National Publicity Secretary, International Federation of Women Lawyers (fida), Princess Frank-Chukwani (left) and the fida National Secretary, Mrs Rhoda Tyoden-Moore, during the visit of fida delegation to nan headquarters in Abuja, recently.

FCT

The Senate Appropriation Committee has begun the
harmonisation of budget reports of various sub committees and promised that the committee would produce error-free budget.
Senator Danjuma Goje, the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, who met with chairmen of the various committees, stressed that the harmonisation would ensure that all errors and discrepancies were corrected.
He promised that the committee would sit for one week and round up its report which would be submitted to the Senate next week.
“The appropriation committee is ready now to start receiving this report and we have one week to conclude this assignment, so this committee will sit from 10 in the morning till six in the evening.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government has approved N500
million for the procurement of 5,000 metric tons of assorted fertilizers for the 2016 cropping season.
Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, the state Commissioner for Information, stated this in Dutse while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.
“As you are all aware, fertilizer plays a very crucial role in providing optimum production in agriculture, especially when it is timelessly applied by framers.
“And the state government has resolved to improve the living standard of the rural populace, hence the need to provide agricultural inputs to the teeming farmers during both wet and dry farming seasons,’’ he said.
Ibrahim said the council also approved the setting up of State Housing Authority.
According to him, it will facilitate accessing of over N2 billion loan from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) for the construction of 1,330 houses in the state.

Kaduna

Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Sci
ence and Technology, Dr Shehu Adamu, says the provision of free uniforms to secondary school students is part of efforts to reinvigorate the education sector in the state.
Adamu said this in a message to the presentation of the free uniforms to students under Sabon-Tasha Zonal Education Office in Kaduna.
Represented by Malam Usamatu Umar-Dabo, Deputy Director, Educational Services, the commissioner stressed that the gesture would ensure uniformity in the students’ wears.
“The essence of the gesture is to ensure that all secondary school students across the state wear the same uniform.

Katsina

The Katsina State Government has awarded N104.2
million contract for the renovation and construction of new buildings at Funtua General Hospital.
The Project Manager from the state Ministry of Health, Mr Abubakar Ado, said at the site that the facelift was aimed at improving healthcare delivery in the state.
Ado added that the contract was partial fulfilment of government’s readiness to uplift hospitals across the state.
He described the contract as Phase 2 that would cover the renovation of male and female amenities.
The manager said it also covered the renovation of the administration block, female and male mosques, Out Patient Department (OPD) and the central store.

Kano

Alhaji Saleh Marke, a legislator representing
Dawakin-Tofa Constituency in Kano State House Assembly, has donated 1, 000 double decker-beds to Government Girls’ Secondary School Kwa in Kano.
The school was recently gutted by fire.
Presenting the items to the principal of the school, Hajiya Fati Sarki, Marke said the gesture was aimed at assisting the students.
He said that it was his obligation to assist the school at the time the assistance was needed.
“As representative of my people I have no reason to ignore the plight of the students,“ he said.
Marke expressed hope that the gesture would reduce the suffering of the students and enable them pursue their studies without hindrance.

Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government would partner with the
National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Niger State, to produce improved seedlings that would boost commercial rice and wheat production.
Information on the partnership is contained in a statement issued by Alhaji Abubakar Muazu, the Press Secretary to the Governor, made available in Birnin Kebbi.
The statement quoted Muazu as saying that the state governor had showed interest in buying the institute‘s new variety of improved seedlings after inspecting its model farms.
He said that the institute‘s Irrigation Officer, Fadeiye Olalekan, who conducted the governor round some model farms said the improved seedlings were free of diseases and capable of yielding 22 tonnes of rice per hectare.
He added that the governor had promised to distribute improved seedlings to farmers as part of efforts to produce rice in commercial quantity.

Kwara

The Emir of llorin, Alhaji lbrahim Sulu-Gambari,
has appealed to Nigerians to ensure the success of the forthcoming 2017 census across the country.
The emir made the appeal when he received the management staff of the National Population Commission (NPC) in his palace in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Our correspondent reports that the delegation was led by the NPC Federal Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Ndakene.
Sulu-Gambari said that accurate and reliable census was one of the indices for planning any development in any country.
He prayed for the successful conduct of the exercise and pledged to help mobilise all traditional leaders in the state for its success.
Nasarawa

A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada,
Nasarawa State, has sentenced a 23-year-old bricklayer, Matthew Isaac, to 12 strokes of the cane for unlawful possession of army uniform.
The presiding officer, Mr Albert Maga, sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.
Isaac, a resident of Nyanya Gwandara, Nasarawa State, was convicted for being in possession of army uniform, three caps and two boots.
Maga warned the convict to be careful in future with what he goes about holding as he would not take it likely with him next time.
The Prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji, had told the court that Idoko John of Elite Security Organisation, Mararaba, reported the matter at the ‘A’ Division Police Station on February 21.

Ondo

A 31-year-old man, Hassan Adeyinka, charged with
conspiracy and armed robbery, has been remanded in Olokuta Prisons custody by an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court.
Chief Magistrate Sunday Adedapo ordered the remand of the accused in prison custody, pending the receipt of legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
Adedapo said that the original copy of the case file should be sent to the state Chief Registrar for safe keeping.
The Principal Legal Officer, Mr Wale Bamisile, told the court that the accused and others at large, armed with guns and other offensive weapons, attacked and stole a Techno IPad phone valued N95,000.

Sokoto

The Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto (UDUS)
Alumni Association, Abuja Chapter, says it is undertaking a water project for the institution at the cost of more than N46 million.
The President of chapter, Mr Kasimu Yahaya, disclosed this while fielding questions from reporters on the sideline of the association’s retreat in Abuja recently.
The theme of the retreat is ‘Strategic Thinking, Planning and Organisational Transformation’.
“We have project of N46 .something million- that is about the water project- because we cannot allow our brothers, our children to be in the university where they have inadequacy of water supply.
“It is a very key thing; we are looking at it.
“So, we are trying; both our senior ones and us to see how we can come together and finance this project at the chapter level.

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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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