Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

November 11, 2016

Abuja

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations
Enforcement Agency, (NESREA), says it is committed to sensitise Nigerians on the need to preserve air quality for healthier environment in the country.
Director-General of the agency, Dr Lawrence Anukam,made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Anukam said that the sensitisation of Nigerians on air quality would help to address air quality problems in the country.
He said that the agency would also sensitise the public on the environmental and human health implications of air pollution and on the extant environmental and human laws related to air quality.
The director-general explained that air quality could be described as the condition of the air in an environment.
He said that air quality was being determined by assessing a variety of pollution indicators.
Anukam explained that good air quality was a requirement for preserving the exquisite balance of life on earth for humans, plants, animals and natural resources.

Bauchi,

The 33 Arttilery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bauchi, says it
has arrested a fake soldier who claimed to be a serving personnel.
Ag. Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the brigade, Cpt. Sunday Akinkunmi, said this in Bauchi while presenting to newsmen the suspect, Adamu Alexander, alias dudu, 22, from Maiduguri Local Government Area of Borno.
Akinkunmi said that Alexander was arrested on Novevember 4, 2016 at GSM Section, Winti Market, Bauchi, while attempting to sell a stolen Samsung cell phone Note 5.
He further said that the suspect was arrested in full military uniform by a detachment of officers from the brigade.
Akinkunmi said that the suspect during interrogation claimed that he was a serving military man with 22 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Dikwa, Borno.

Kano

The Kano State House of Assembly has called on the
state government to, as a matter of urgency, provide additional security personnel in all the boarding schools across the state.
The Assembly made the call following the presentation of a joint committee report of the Assembly on Emergency and Education.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Education, Alhaji Baffa Dan’agundi, said the call was necessary to ensure the safety of the students.
According to him, over 46 students were affected by the incident, while over N7 million worth of property was lost.
Dan’agundu also called on the state government to assist the students affected by the inferno.

Katisna

The Katsina State Standing Committee on the Improve
ment of Farmers and Herdsmen Relationship had recovered no fewer than 9,000 cattle from rustlers in the state.
The chairman of the committee, Alhaji AbdulAziz Lawal, disclosed this to newsmen last Tuesday in Katsina.
He said that 8,700 animals that were identified by their owners had been released to them.
Lawal said that cattle rustling had reduced drastically in the state following the efforts of the state government to dialogue with members of the group.
He said that had also reduced cases of clash between farmers and herdsmen across the 34 local government areas of the state.
Lawal said that the state government issued grazing permit to herdsmen through their traditional leaders as part of measures to curtail clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

Kwara
An Ilorin Area Court has granted custody of a three-
year-old girl to her mother after both parents were separated.
The plaintiff, Fatimah Abubakar, had begged the court to grant her custody of her daughter after the dissolution of her marriage to Abubakar Aroni.
The plaintiff said her daughter had been with her husband since their marriage was dissolved in October.
She said the marriage was dissolved last month due to lack of care and interest by her husband.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Mr. Abdulquadr Ibrahim, granted the woman the child’s custody but ordered the husband to give her N5,000 monthly for the child’s upkeep amidst other responsibilities.
Lagos

A Federal High Court in Lagos fixed December 2 for con
tinued trial of a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam.
Abdulsalam was charged alongside six others over alleged stealing and conversion of NAMA’s N6.8 billion.
The other accused are: Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite and two companies – Randville Investment Ltd. and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd.
The accused are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned the case following the absence of prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, who informed the court of his non-availability, in a letter.
Oyedepo informed the court that he was before an appellate court for another case.

Nasarawa

Director of Child Development in Nasarawa State Min
istry of Women Affairs, Mrs Yomi Adagazu, has raised alarm over increasing cases of abandoned babies in Lafia, the state capital, and environs.
Adagazu expressed concern over the trend in an interview with newsmen in Lafia.
She noted that three babies were abandoned at different locations in Lafia and environs within the last one month.
The director said that the baby boy had been taken to Maimuna Katai Orphanage in the metropolis for proper upkeep.
Adagazu described as unfortunate the way girls were abandoning their babies in spite of the fact that these babies were precious gifts from God.
She appealed to members of the public and organisations to assist the orphanages in the state in catering for the children and assured of the ministry’s commitment to the proper up bringing of the orphans.

Niger

The Federal Government will provide land to artisanal
miners in the country to legitimise their trade, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Feyemi, has said.
Kayode, who inspected mining sites at Muye Kafinkoro in Paiko Local Government Area of Niger State, said the government was developing a framework to legalise artisanal mining in the country.
“Kayode said it was important for the miners to properly organise themselves into cooperative groups, to benefit from various interventions of the federal government to boost the sector.
He said that the ministry would issue mining licences through the cooperatives.
The minister explained that the registration of cooperatives would also allow the miners to be engaged by registered mining companies to earn decent income.

Oyo

The President of a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan,
Mr Ademola Odunade, has dissolved 12 year-old marriage between one Aishat and her husband, Riliwan Atanda, for blowing off her tooth.
Odunade held that it was obvious that there was no more love between Aishat and Riliwan because the duo agreed to part ways and had even stopped living together.
He awarded the custody of their three children to Aishat for proper care.
The court president, however, directed Riliwan to be paying monthly feeding allowance of N10, 000 for the upkeep of the children and be responsible for their education and other welfare needs.
Narrating her ordeal, Aishat told the court that Riliwan blew off one of her teeth during one of his punching encounters with her.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State House of Assembly has received a
letter from Governor Aminu Tambuwal requesting for a second warrant to vire N2.4 billion in the 2016 budget.
Tambuwal, in the letter read by the Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, drew the attention of the assembly to the ongoing development projects and services in the state.
The letter read: “Therefore, there is the need for the modifications in the budgetary provisions in order to ensure sustainability of the projects and services in the state.
“Further to that, all the affected votes of charge will be harmonised in the state’s budget outlay to ensure prudence in the management of the resources.
“In the light of the foregoing, I forward to the house, the 2016 second virement warrant request involving N1.130 billion for capital projects and N1.290 billion for recurrent expenditure.”
The Speaker referred the request to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further consideration.

Zamfara

The police in Zamfara State say several people have
been killed by gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers at a mining site in Gidan Ardo village of Bindin district of Maru Local Government Area.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Shehu Muhammad, disclosed this to newsmen in Gusau.
Muhammad, however, said the command had yet to ascertain the actual number of those killed during the mayhem.
He said investigation into the killing had just begun.
He said the Anti-terrorism Squad of the command had already been deployed to the area to join the Army in trailing the gunmen, and assured that they would soon be arrested.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

13 hours 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

13 hours 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

14 hours 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.