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THE STATES

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10 years ago

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Adamawa

Farmers in Adamawa State have urged government and
military authorities in the state to lift the total ban on the use of motor-cycle across the state.
Our correspondent reports that military authorities placed a ban on the use of motorcycles in the state two years ago due to security reasons.
A cross section of farmers, who spoke with our correspondent in Yola on Tuesday, said that there had been tremendous improvement in security situation in the state.
They said that the ban should be lifted to enable farmers in the rural areas who depended heavily on motor-cycles for farming to get some relief.
The farmers said that the ban on motor-cycles had seriously affected farming activities in the state and that something needed to be done by relevant authorities to end their suffering.

Abuja

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has
directed Assistant-Inspectors General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in the South-South and South-East zones to disarm members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) operating with firearms immediately.
Arase gave the directive in a statement issued by an acting Commissioner of Police, Olabisi Kolawole,who is the Force Public Relations Officer in Abuja.
The statement indicated that the directive followed the manifestation of the disposition of the armed IPOB activists to undertake premeditated attacks
on police officers engaged in operations aimed at restoring public order in the states.
Kolawole quoted the inspector-general as saying “the targeted attacks on police personnel showed that the activists have crossed the threshold in their misguided attempt to test the common will of the nation.”

Jigawa

Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria
(MACBAN), has urged nomads to desist from grazing their livestock at night in order to avoid farm land encroachment as farmers begin planting.
The MACBAN’s Secretary in the state, Alhaji Adamu Birniwa, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Birniwa said that the warning has become necessary in view of the current security challenges facing the country.
The scribe also urged parents to desist from sending their under-aged children out to graze at night.

Kaduna

UNICEF said it would support states in the north to develop
plan against flood and other disasters in the country.
The UNICEF Chief of field office, Kaduna, Mr Utpal Moitra, disclosed this at a workshop on Emergency Preparedness Response Training and Flood Preparedness in Kaduna.
He said the workshop, which is an annual event, was designed to help focal persons from the north to prepare plans against disasters for their respective states.
“Whenever there is a disaster, there must be an immediate action to remedy it.
“Our Preparedness plan is to provide relief. The Fund was able to support SEMA and other agencies. So, emergency is everybody’s business.”

Katsina

The Federal Government has earmarked about N600 million
in 2016 budget to boost water supply and irrigation farming at Zobe Dam in Katsina State.
Kurfi, a member of the House of Representatives from Dutsin-ma/Kurfi Federal Consistency, stated this during an interview with newsmen to mark the All Progressives Congress (APC) one year in office in Katsina.
Kurfi said contract for the supply of water from the Zobe Dam to communities of Dutsin – ma and Kurfi would soon be awarded.
The lawmaker said about N300 million out of the amount had been set aside for irrigation at the dam to boost food production.
Kurfi said that the dam would be used for irrigation farming to generate income for unemployed youths from his constituency.

Lagos

The Lagos State Commissioner for Works and
Infrastructure, Mr Ganiyu Johnson, said the government would soon start rehabilitation of the damaged pedestrian bridge at Fadeyi Bus Stop on Ikorodu Road.
Our correspondent recalls that the state government had, in November 2015, shut the steel bridge in the area due to public outcry over its dilapidated state.
Mini-gates were thereafter used to block the entry and exit points of the foot bridge to prevent its use.
Johnson said that the state government planned to rehabilitate the bridge alongside the ongoing construction of four new ones.

Nasarawa

Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Prof.
Mohammed Akaro-Mainoma, said that the institution had lost over N627 million to the ongoing strike by its lecturers.
Our correspondent reports that the local branch of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on strike since March 7, over unpaid allowances, promotion, tax deductions and funding.
The vice chancellor told newsmen in Keffi that the strike had seriously affected financial and academic activities of the institution.
Akaro-Mainoma, however, said that the state government had released money to the institution to pay the striking lecturers.

Niger

The Niger Basin Authority has pledged to implement an
operational plan that would preserve the region and enable it meet its full potentials.
This was the thrust of the presentation by the Executive Secretary of the authority, Mrs Toupta Boguena, at the ongoing extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers in Abuja recently.
She listed drought and population increase, as part of the causes of depletion in the river basin, saying efforts are on to preserve the region to enable it meet its full potential.
According to her, the authority is implementing an Operational Plan from the just concluded 11th Summit of the Heads of States and Governments with active participation of the nine member countries.

Ogun

A  former President of the Association of National
Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN),  Dr Samuel Nzekwe, has advised the Federal Government to formulate policies that would reduce inflation and boost the economy.
Nzekwe gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Ota, Ogun, recently.
He said that the Federal Government needed to make policies that would lead to the growth of the economy.
Nzekwe said there were still some areas of the economy that the Federal Government needed to re-double its efforts in order to achieve meaningful result.
He also said Nigerians were waiting for the dividends of democracy through the provision of job opportunities and infrastructural development.

Ondo

Civil servants in Ondo State are to begin an indefinite
strike action this week to protest non payment of over five months salary.
The strike notice is contained in a communiqué issued in Akure by the state Chairmen and Secretaries of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
It said that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the labour unions which reviewed the failure of the state government to pay the workers since January 2016.
“It has become unbearable that workers have not received salaries for the past five months at a stretch.
“That non-payment of salaries to workers have affected the wellbeing of workers/pensioners economically, socially, psychologically and health wise.
“That workers of Ondo State can no longer bear this situation, in view of the untold hardship suffered by these workers,” it added.

Oyo

Wife of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Dr
Eyiwumi Olayinka, has inaugurated an agriculture project titled, ‘Ag Impact’ to create jobs for women and youths.
Olayinka, who is also the President, University of Ibadan Women’s Society, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
She said the project’s vision was to eradicate poverty by empowering women and youths through sustainable agricultural projects.
Olayinka emphasised that women would be introduced to simple cutting edge technologies by working with experts with relevant skills nationally and internationally.
“We hope to explore value addition chain by keying into best practices that have been proven to have the capacity to eradicate crop glut in the production and processing of agricultural crops”.

Plateau

Vice Chancellor, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa,
Prof. Adam Habib, has advised African Governments to properly fund universities to boost their quality and ensure competitiveness.
Habib gave the advice in a key note address at the Annual Conference of Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), which took place at the University of Jos.
“For the African continent to fully develop, its education sector must first develop.
“We cannot be economically free if we cannot produce our knowledge and tailor it towards our goals.
“To produce our knowledge, government must properly fund universities or make legislation for organisations or individual to pay for university education,” he said.
He described education as the precursor for development, stressing that no meaningful growth could be attained without adequate attention to the sector.

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REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

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1 month ago

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June 29, 2026

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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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1 month ago

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June 29, 2026

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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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1 month ago

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June 29, 2026

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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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