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Borno

The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) has  presented relief materials to hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in six satellite camps in Monguno, Borno State.
Alhaji Muhammad Kanar, the NEMA North-East Zonal Coordinator, presented the materials to the IDPs at a ceremony in Monguno, headquarters of Monguno Local Government Area.
Kanar said that the gesture was aimed at providing succour to the IDPs who were rescued by the military from suspected Boko Haram hideouts.
He urged them to consider their predicament as an act of God and utilise the items judiciously.
Kanar said the exercise would continue as more people were expected to be rescued by the military in their current war against terrorism.

FCT

The President of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) has accused state governments  of  neglecting state universities established by their predecessors.
ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, levelled this accusation while briefing newsmen in Abuja recently.
Ogunyemi noted that the general problem of under-funding of Nigeria’s public universities was very alarming in state-owned universities.
According to him, many states have failed  to fully implement the 2009 agreement in which they participated.
“State governments have been neglecting universities that they established and some state governors are going ahead to establish new ones while those brought to life by their predecessors in office are neglected to rot and die,” he said.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government says it treated
30,141 severely malnourished children in 12 local government areas of the state between January and June this year.
The State Deputy Nutrition Officer, Malam Saidu Adamu, disclosed this at a Mid-Year meeting with UNICEF Bauchi office and State Government  in Dutse recently.
Adamu explained that the figure of those cured with malnutrition represented 75 per cent, defaulters rate was 15 per cent while death rate of 10 per cent was recorded within the period under review.
He said that 120 health workers had been trained on Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) in six months.

Ogun

A 31-year-old, Rotimi Adekunle, who allegedly
stole a Samsung Galaxy phone worth N22,400 from a woman’s bag at a bus stop, is facing trial at an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, whose address is unknown, is standing trial on a charge of stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Augustine Ozimini told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 2 at about 9.30 a.m. at Camp Junction in Abeokuta.
“Adekunle was caught in the act by an official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who was on duty at the junction.”
Ozimini alleged that some phones were also found on him when he was apprehended.

Kaduna

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
has arrested an imposter claiming to be a Lt. Col. and Commander of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, Kachia in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Orndiir Terzungwe, Public Relations Officer, Kaduna state Command of NSCDC, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna.
“We received a distress call from our personnel who was on duty at WATCON factory located around Gamji Gate,” he said.
Terzungwe said on getting the report, NSCDC personnel visited the scene and got one suspect who gave his name as Obi Gerard, male, 50 years.

Kano

The Federal Government says it has commenced the re
view of the cost profile of all its revenue generating agencies.
Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, made the disclosure at a two-day National Revenue Retreat in Kano.
The retreat was organised by the Ministry of Finance as part of government’s effort to brainstorm on how to shift emphasis from oil to non-oil revenue.
Adeosun said that the measure was necessary in order to ensure that maximum operating surpluses were declared and remitted in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
She said that the ministry had commenced a number of audits of a range of agencies that would provide the government improved visibility into the revenue and cost profiles.

Lagos

The Agege Local Government Administrator in Lagos
State, Mr Gbenga Abiola, said skills acquisition, good environment and security remained his cardinal agenda.
Abiola told newsmen in Lagos that protection of lives and property, skills acquisition, as well as quality and affordable education would be given attention.
The sole administrator, appointed in June by the state government, said he intended to make the council area “livable.”
“When you have a conducive environment business will thrive. When we have healthy people, then we will have people to govern. We must make the environment of Agege livable”.
Nasarawa

An educationist, Mr Nze Uchendu, has appealed to Ni
gerians to protect indigenous languages from extinction.
Uchendu made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
He decried the neglect of indigenous languages for foreign ones, a situation, which he said was incompatible with the nation’s multi-cultural setting.
“Nigeria as a country is blessed with over 300 languages, but because of colonisation the English language from another continent, has become the official language of the country.
“Many Nigerians have started to see themselves as English people and see it as a crime to speak Nigerian indigenous languages.

Ondo

An Ore Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State  has remanded
a 32-year-old driver, Muisi Ishola, in prison for allegedly knocking down a Federal Road Safety Corps marshal.
The Magistrate, Mr Banjo Ikusika, gave the order following the inability of the accused to meet his bail conditions.
The accused, who is standing trial on a two-count charge of dangerous driving and attempted manslaughter, was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
The court also ordered that the sureties must be civil servants on grade level 12 with a year’s tax clearance and reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Ibrahim Ogundeyi, told the court that the accused had on July 12 along Ore-Lagos Expressway driven a Suzuki Zubaru car marked BDG 976 DJ dangerously.

Plateau

The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari has do
nated materials worth millions of Naira to more than 500 less privileged persons in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau.
The beneficiaries include widows, orphans and the physically challenged who gathered in the council for the materials.
Our correspondent  reports that some of the materials donated include bags of Semovita, Wheat Flour and cartons of Spaghetti and Indomie noodles as well as cash presentation.
Represented by the Council’s Chairman, Mr Stephen Jings, the wife of the president explained that the gesture was out of her desire to alleviate sufferings of the less privileged in the country.
“This Government is not ignorant of the plights of the less privileged in the country and as such it has decided to reach out to them in its own little way”.

Yobe

A community leader in Yobe State, Alhaji Zannah
Babagana has  called for government’s support in the rehabilitation of the over 120 women and children rescued from insurgents by security operatives in Gwargware and Kur villages in Borno.
Zannah is the village head of Kukareta community in Yobe.
He made the call when the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), donated tarpaulin, foodstuff and clothes to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kukareta.
The community leader said that the women and children who were rescued from Gwargware and Kur villages in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno bordering Yobe, were now taking refuge in Kukareta village.
“Government and other NGOs must supplement the efforts of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency in feeding the IDPs.
“Some of the displaced persons in the self-established camp have returned to their communities.
“But the arrival of these women and children rescued from the two villages has created more feeding challenges in the camp,” he said.

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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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