Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

May 9, 2016

Governor Muhammadu Jibrillah of Adamawa (left), discussing with the Acting Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (Nan), Mr Jones Afolabi, during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Government House, Dougirie Inyola recently

Adamawa
Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla of Adamawa has lauded
the Federal Government for its sustained support in tackling challenges posed by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
Jibrilla made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Yola on Thursday.
Jibrilla said Adamawa could not have coped with the IDPs, particularly those being evacuated from neibouring countries that passed through the state transit camps, without the support of Federal Government’s agency like NEMA.
“Federal Government has also started doing something on infrastructure such as schools, police stations and places of worship.”

Borno
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the
Federal Government’s donation of relief materials would facilitate speedy return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their communities.
Buratai said this at the flag-off ceremony of the distribution of relief materials to IDPs in Maiduguri.
He said the gesture was also aimed at improving their standard of living as they resettled in their communities.
He said it was also part of the efforts of both the federal and state governments to quickly ameliorate the suffering of the people.
The Army Chief said that the initiative would also support the military activities in the liberated communities.

FCT
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,
Chief Audu Ogbeh, has enjoined Nigerians, particularly the elites, to engage in agriculture to boost food production.
The minister made this call while speaking at the Sectoral Debate on strategies for diversification of the Nigerian economy organised by the House of Representatives.
Ogbeh said there was need for the country to adhere to the 10 per cent budgetary allocation to agriculture in line with Maputo Declaration.
“If Agriculture is to be restored to its days of glory in Nigeria, ýpeople from all strata of the society including the elite must be involved in line with the Maputo Declaration,’’ the minister said.

Lagos
A landlord, Segun Oye, who allegedly assaulted a fe
male tenant, Uche Elodinmuo, has appeared before a Surulere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused, 49, who lives at No. 4, Ayo Davies Close, off Ekololu Street, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge bordering on assault.
The prosecutor, Insp. Gabriel Ekundayo, said the accused committed the offence at the same address at about 8.45 p.m. on April 19.
Ekundayo told the court that the complainant, Elodinmuo, reported the incident at Orile-Iganmu Police Station.
“The accused came and assaulted her in front of her room when she complained about her missing fuel in the compound.
“Other co-tenants have been complaining about missing fuel too, suspecting the gateman may be stealing the fuel to fill the landlord’s generator.”

Kano
The seven Kano State students and their driver who
died along Lagos-Ibadan expressway have been buried in Kano, amid tears.
The funeral prayer was conducted at the Emir’s Palace, Kano, around 9 a.m., and the deceased were buried at the Tarauni Graveyard.
Among those that attended the prayer were: Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, members of the state Executive Council, other top government officials as well as parents and sympathisers.
The funeral prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Kano, Prof. Sani Zahraddeen, who prayed God to grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and Jannatul Firdaus (The highest Paradise).
He also prayed God to give their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Kogi
The Kogi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board said
that the Saudi Arabian Government had returned N24 million to it for services not rendered during the 2015 hajj.
The Chairman of the board, Alhaji Sadiq Muhammed Rabiu, who made this known during a courtesy call on the traditional ruler of Ayangba, Alhaji Shuaibu Okolp, said that the money would be shared among the 2015 pilgrims from the state.
He said that by the board’s calculation, each of the participants would receive N27,000.
According to him, the gesture from the Saudi government is a reflection of their entrenched culture of accountability and fairness.
On preparations for the 2016 hajj, Rabiu said that the board had secured accommodation near Kabba, to facilitate the performance of the basic rites while in holy land.

Nasarawa
The women wing of the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN), Nasarawa State chapter, has donated food and sanitary items to Maimuna Catha Orphanage Home in Lafia.
The chairperson of the association, Mrs. Lydia Attah, who delivered the items said that the gesture was the association’s modest contribution to demonstrate love, care and concern to the orphans.
“We want to give the orphans a sense of belonging; we want them to feel cared for,” she said.
Attah said that Christian women had an obligation to show love, stressing that assisting the less privileged in the society was in obedience to God’s teachings.
“The donation is part of the association’s commitment to cushioning the hardship being experienced by the orphans due to the death of their parents.

Ogun

The Police in Ogun docked two men: Waheed
Azeez,26, and Emmanuel Abolade,20, before an Ota Magistrates’ Court for allegedly assaulting one Adebesin Tunde by stabbing him with broken bottles.
The accused, whose addresses are unknown, are facing a two-count charge of assault and conspiracy.
The Prosecutor, Sgt Itaita Ebibomino, told the court that the accused and others still at large, committed the offences on April 3 at about 7:30 p.m. at Owode-Ijako Area of Ota.
Ebibomino said that the accused and his accomplices conspired among themselves to assault the complainant by stabbing him with broken bottles.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 355 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Ondo
The Executive Chairman of Ilaje Local Government of
Ondo State, Mr Agunola Omomowo, has advised his councilors to fulfill their electioneering promises.
He said that fulfillment of the promises would justify the confidence reposed in them by the electorate.
Our correspondent reports that the advice was given on Wednesday at the swearing-in ceremony of 12 elected councilors at the LGA in Igbokoda.
Omomowo also called for the co-operation of the executive arm of the local government and urged them to shun unnecessary misunderstanding.
He advised that peace should be the watchword rather than violence.

Oyo
The President of a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, Mr
Ademola Odunade, dissolved the three-year-old marriage between one Taiwo Akande and his wife, Shukurat, over persistent uttering of curses by the latter.
Odunade held that the court could only pacify parties to a dispute but could not enforce settlement.
“Since Akande, who is the head of the home has made up his mind to discontinue the union between him and Shukurat, the marriage has therefore ceased to exist,” the judge said.
He, however, awarded custody of the two and a half -year-old child produced by the union to Shukurat for proper care.
“Akande shall also pay a cash sum of N12,000 for Shukurat’s one-year house rent and another N3,000 to pack her belongings,” Odunade added.

Plateau

Workers of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)
have taken to the streets of Jos to protest what they called the “complete lack of basic facilities in the hospital”.
The workers, under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), moved through most major streets of the city, chanting solidarity songs that urged the Federal Government to sack the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Edward Banwat.
Our correspondent reports that the workers, who have been on strike for more than two months, took to the streets saying the management could not address their grievances.
Mr Mustapha Kabir, an official of the union, alleged that the hospital lacked consumables, drugs and beds, while machines required for basic operation had all broken down.

Sokoto

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has inaugu
rated the Sokoto branch of Bank of Industry (BOI) and announced that the state has secured a N2 billion loan package.
The governor, who spoke at the inauguration of the branch, said that small and medium entrepreneurs would access the loan.
He said that the state government and the bank would contribute N1 billion each, adding that the programme was aimed at boosting small and medium scale businesses, as well as boost employment.
The governor challenged the beneficiaries to use the loan judiciously to enhance socio-economic development of the state.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

1 month 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

1 month 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

1 month 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.