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THE STATES

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Ekiti
A father of three, Olanrewaju Aluko, has admitted
preparing a fake charm for his wife Tolu to swear with that she was not flirting around
Aluko made the disclosure when he testified in a divorce petition instituted by his wife in an Ikole Customary Court in Ekiti
“I am not fetish and occultic. I only asked Tolu to swear with a fake fetish substance which I prepared to confirm her innocence when I suspected her to be flirting around,’’ he said.
He urged the court to grant him custody of their third child, saying the child was the only girl that needed care.

FCT
A teacher, Mrs Precious Anthony, who resides at
Karu Village, FCT, has asked a Jikoyi Customary Court to dissolve her marriage, alleging that her husband planned to kill her by stabbing her to death.
“My husband almost stabbed me to death after he has consumed excess alcohol.
“This has been his usual behaviour, anytime he comes back drunk, he never lets me be.
“He sometimes beats me up for doing nothing,” she said.
She said her husband recently threw her out of the house with their only daughter.

Gombe
The General Manager of the Gombe State Water Cor
poration, Malam Isah Mohammad, has blamed paucity of funds for the water scarcity in  Gombe and its environs.
Mohammad said that the maintenance of  the multi-billion naira  Gombe Regional Water Supply Scheme at  the Dadin-Kowa Dam was posing a huge challenge owing to lack of funds.
Addressing a news conference in Gombe following the prolonged maintenance work at the treatment plant, the general manager said the current economic recession had made it mandatory for the board to sit up and look inward.
“If not, a time will come when people will be forced to get water through more expensive sources,” he said.
He said that plans were underway to embark on debt recovery with the help of a task force.

Kano
The Kano State Police command said it had arrested
two suspected armed robbers who terrorised some residents during the ongoing Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in Kano metropolis.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Majiya, confirmed the arrest in an interview with newsmen in Kano.
Majiya said the suspects, Abdulraham Mohammed and Aminu Abdullahi, were apprehended along Abdullahi Bayero Road in Kano metropolis after an attack on some victims.
“The two suspected armed robbers were arrested after they attacked their victims and items recovered from them include two knives and cell phones,’’ he said.

Katsina
The Katsina State Government has approved the re
cruitment of 1,900 teachers for its secondary schools, as part of efforts to address shortage of manpower in the schools.
Prof. Halimatu Idris, Commissioner for Education, made the disclosure in Katsina while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.
The commissioner explained that the teachers to be recruited were those already doing part-time or voluntary work in public schools across the state.
Idris said that ministry, the state Science and Technical Education Board, and that of Basic Education would be involved in the exercise.

Kogi
A Lokoja Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded an 18-
year-old Disc Jockey (DJ), Ugbede Iyeh, in prison custody for allegedly killing his friend, a barber, Ikani Amodu, 30, with a pestle.
The Chief Magistrat, Mr Levi Animoku, described the offence as culpable homicide.
Animoku said the offence carried the highest penalty and remanded the accused at the Federal Prisons, Dekina.
He also transferred the case to the Chief Magistrate Court in Dekina, and adjourned it till Sept. 27 for mention.

Kwara
An Ilorin-based legal practitioner, Mr Gbenga
Abodunrin, has condemned the  practice of mounting loud speakers outside worship places.
Abodunrin told newsmen in Ilorin that the practice constituted noise pollution to the public.
He said that most religious houses were fond of placing loud speakers outside to the discomfort of the public.
“The way religious houses cause noise pollution with their speakers hung outside the building is a nuisance to the public.
“It is disrupting public peace and aside from that, it causes noise pollution and like I read that it could be dangerous to the hearing of babies,” he said.

Lagos
For allegedly stabbing his tenant to death, Gbade
Metibemu is to be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Metibemu, 34, was presented to face trial on a charge of murder before Magistrate Mrs K.A. Ariyo of an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, but his plea was not taken.
The prosecutor, Insp. Cpl. Hafsat Ajibodu said that the accused committed the offence on July 21 at No. 10, Apollo St., Makoko, Lagos. She said that the accused and the deceased, Bright Chineme, had an argument over where the deceased’s wife should dispose off her used water in the compound.
In the course of the argument, Metibemu allegedly picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed the deceased to death, the prosecutor told the court. The offence contravenes Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

Osun
A 29-year-old woman, Christiana Waheed, has been or
dered by an Oshogbo Magistrates’ Court to sweep the court premises for seven working days as punishment for contempt of court.
The Magistrate, Mrs Olubukola Olowolagba who gave the order, said the woman should embark on the sweeping exercise due to the magnitude of the offence committed.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Taiwo Adegoke, told the court that the accused refused to show up in  a case on Sept. 5 when the case was mentioned by the court clerk.
Adegoke said the accused took the court for granted knowing fully the date and time her case was to be mentioned.

Oyo
The Oyo State sector command of the Federal Road
safety commission (FRSC), says six persons lost their lives from road crashes during the eld-el-kabir celebration in the state.
The sector commander, Mr Yusuf Salami, made the disclosure in Ibadan in an interview with newsmen. He said that 24 persons were injured in seven crashes that occurred during the celebration.
Salami attributed the cause of the crashes to excessive speed. He said that 148 traffic offenders were arrested
“The state recorded low traffic gridlock during the celebration compared to previous years; this was as a result of sensitisation of motorists undertaken by the corps.
“We are going to build on this achievement and we expect the situation to be better especially during this ember months,’’ he said.

Plateau
The Commander of the Plateau State Special Task
Force (STF), Maj.- Gen. Nicholas Rajer, says the team has arrested more than 300 suspects within three months of his assumption of office.
Rajer disclosed this in Jos during a consultative Dialogue Conference on Youths, Security and Governance, organised by Centre for Youths Participation and Advocacy (CYPA).
According to him, most of the offences the suspects committed bordered on illegal possession of weapons, selling and consumption of hard drugs.
“It is these drugs that embolden youths to indulge in all manner of crime,’’ he said.

Yobe
The Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe
State has reconstructed shoulders on the Potiskum-Kano Federal Highway to curb accidents on the road.
The chairman of the council, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, who conducted newsmen round the road, said the repairs became imperative because of the increasing accidents on the very busy road.
“Although this is a federal highway, we have to work it to save the lives of our people and other road users. Mohammed also said that the council was exploring available sources of revenue, which were hitherto neglected, to generate funds.
“Township roads, drainages and healthcare constitute the basic challenge to the communities in the local government area. “The council has constructed drainages within the central market and the livestock market to enhance trading in the markets.

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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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