Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

August 19, 2016

Bauchi

Bauchi State Government says it spent over N17 million
as subsidy on the purchase of uniforms and other items for pilgrims performing the 2016 Hajj.
The State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Nuhu Gidado, announced this in Bauchi during a farewell ceremony organised for the pilgrims from the state.
Gidado, who is also the State Amirul Hajj, explained that the state government had to also subsidise accommodation, feeding and other facilities for the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
He also announced that the state government donated 300 Saudi Riyal to each of the 2,520 pilgrims from the state.
He said that the state government was not able to sponsor pilgrims for the 2016 Hajj like in previous years due to the meagre resources accruing to the state.

Benue

St Andrew’s Adikpo Old Boys Association (SAOBA),
Makurdi, says it is building a N16 million worth of ultra modern hall for its Alma mater.
This is contained in a communiqué signed by its National President, Mr Justin Gbagir and National Secretary, Mr Robert Udende on Saturday in Makurdi.
It stated that the association would construct a hall for the school and the Golden Jubilee of the school would be celebrated in it.
The communiqué, signed at the end of the association’s meeting in Makurdi, noted that the school was established in 1967 and it would be 50 years in 2017.

Gombe

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged
media professionals to maintain ethical standards while reporting children-related issues.
Mr. Samuel Kaalu, the Media Office of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said this on Saturday at a training organised for media practitioners in Gombe state.
Our corresondent reports that the training was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Bauchi State Television (BSTV).
Kaalu also tasked journalists to adequately protect and promote the rights of children through objective reportage.
“Journalists and media professionals must strive to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct while reporting issues that concern children.”
Kaduna

The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Training Command,
Kaduna, AVM Nuradeen Balogun, says physical and mental fitness of the body is critical to the military service.
Balogun, represented by Air Commodore, Remigius Ekeh, made this known during the command’s 10-km walk, at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna, recently.
“The Nigerian Air Force is a combat arm of service, you are aware that we participate in various military operations in the country.
“That is why we have to be physically and mentally fit to be ready to face any challenge,” Balogun said.
He said that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, designed the walk to ensure that personnel were physically and mentally fit to carry out their duty professionally.

Kebbi
The Kebbi State Hisbah Committee has amicably settled
332 civil cases brought before it in the last one year, its Director, Alhaji Abubakar Augie, has said.
Augie, who gave a beakdown of the activities carried out by the group during the period, said 12 abandoned babies were recovered during the period under review.
“We found the 12 dumped babies alive and took them to orphanage for care and upbringing while 31 women with unlawful pregnancies were counselled and assisted to undergo safe delivery.”
Augie added that 50 youths engaged in drug abuse were arrested during the period under review and handed over to relevant authorities for counselling and rehabilitation.

Kwara
A cleric, Pastor Dare David has called on youths in Ni
geria to strive to contribute to the nation building.
David made the call in Ilorin at the two-day youth conference organised by the Kwara State Youth Wing of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), tagged “Youthful but Useful.”
“God has called you, young men and women to a life of impact, without you; there is no future for this nation.
“If you fail as youths in your assignment of nations-building, you will find yourself in asylum in later years.

Lagos

The Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) has urged all tiers
of government to enforce policies on healthier and sustainable food systems in the country in commemoration of the 2016 International Youths Day.
The General Secretary, Lagos State chapter of the group, Mr Adekunle Aderibigbe, made the plea in a statement issued by the group and made available to newsmen
Our correspondent reports that the 2016 International Youths Day, celebrated on Friday, was entitled: “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production”.
“Having led the various sustainability goals, we are advocating for the government to enforce policies to aid healthier and sustainable food systems.

Niger
Governor Sani Bello of Niger State has issued a seven-
day days ultimatum to individuals or groups with illegal firearms to surrender them to the appropriate authority in the state.
Bello gave the directive in a state broadcast in Minna.
He spoke on the recent security challenges in some communities in Bosso Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the state will no longer accommodate individual or groups in possession of firearms and will not be a safe haven for criminals.

Nasarawa

A retired Director of Agriculture in Nasarawa State, Mr
Samuel Gikyu, has urged Nigerians to go back to farm in order to become self reliant.
Gikyu told newsmen on Friday in Akwanga that agriculture would also fight poverty, unemployment and boost the socio-economic development of the country.
He said that for the country to achieve food sufficiency as well as to overcome the present hardship, youths and other Nigerians must go back to farm.
Plateau

The Director-General, National Youth Service
Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazure, has commended the Nigerian Army for working with the scheme.
Kazure made the commendation when he paid a courtesy call on the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armoured Division, Maxwell Kohobe Cantonment, Jos.
The NYSC boss expressed joy that the GOC had availed the NYSC the use of army facilities for the conduct of its annual nationwide promotion examinations holding in Jos.
“I am very thankful for the cordial relationship that is existing between the scheme and the command, the synergy we have with the army is very strong,” he said.

Taraba

The Taraba State Police command, has presented
to newsmen 142 cows and 26 sheep it recovered from suspected cattle rustlers in Serti, Gashaka Council Area of the state.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Yakubu Babas, told newsmen in Jalingo that the animals were intercepted in collaboration with Tabital Pulaaku Vigilance Group.
According to him, the police recovered the animals after a gun battle with the suspected cattle rustlers.
“On the receipt of the intelligence information, a team of policemen with vigilantes were drafted to the area.
“On sighting our men, the rustlers engaged them in a shootout but due to the superior power of my men, they took to their heels abandoning 142 cows and 26 sheep.

Yobe
Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence
Corps, Yobe State, Dr Muhammad Fari says the command has adopted special measures to check violence against women and children in the state.
Fari stated this in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
According to him, the command will intensify its activities to protect women, young girls, boys and elderly persons against violence and abuse.
“The command will work assiduously in all the 17 local government areas to ensure that the rights of these vulnerable groups are protected against abuse.

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.