Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

April 28, 2017

Adamawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Adamawa State has arrested a suspected Boko Haram member, Amos Hassan.
Briefing newsmen last Wednesday in Yola, the State Commandant of the corps, Mr Aliyu Musa told newsmen that Hassan was arrested last Tuesday at the Federal Housing Estate in Bajabure area of Yola.
“He was arrested by our surveillance team and had made confessional statement that he had killed about 10 people since he joined the group,” Musa said.
He said that the suspect who had signs of healing bullet wounds was from Sambisa forest.
Responding to questions from newsmen, the 25-year-old Hassan said he came from Azare in Bauchi State.
The suspect said he was from Sambisa forest.

FCT
The Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Abu Shafiul Huq, said last Tuesday in Abuja that counter insurgency operation required more than the military approach.
Huq, who was in Nigeria on a five-day visit, shared the experience of his country at a presentation titled, “Counter Insurgency Operation: The Bangladesh Experience,’’ at the National Defence College (NDC).
He said apart from the military approach, political approach, as well as engagement of the people were also necessary tools to successfully counter insurgency.
Huq said those approaches were used to successfully counter insurgency in his country in the late 70s after it gained independence in 1971.
The Bangladesh’s army chief identified socio-economic, political and religious factors as some of the root causes of insurgency.

Kaduna
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it is working hard to ensure that no eligible voter in the country disen defranchised during the 2019 general elections.
Resident Electoral Commissioner [REC] in Kaduna State,Alhaji Abdullahi Kaugama, gave the assurance last Tuesday in Kaduna while interacting with political parties and other election stakeholders on Continuous Voter Registration.
The REC said that the nationwide continuous voters registration was meant to capture all eligible voters ahead of the 2019 polls.
According to him, the exercise will be flagged-off in the state at Hunkuyi, Kudan Local Government, yesterday and would subsequently commence in all INEC offices in the 23 local government areas of the state.
The exercise was for eligible residents of the state who did not register to vote in 2015 and those who attained the age of 18 years after the last general elections.

Kano
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two suspected drug traffickers who posed as police officers in Nasarawa area of Kano metropolis.
Kano State Commandant of NDLEA, Alhaji Hamza Umar, told newsmen in Kano last Tuesday that the suspects were arrested in a brand new escort vehicle with police colour, siren, pilot plate number and in possession of two police caps.
According to him, the suspects were arrested blaring the siren and pretending to be police officers while conveying 715 kilograms of Indian Hemp to Yobe.
Umar said “during investigation by our officers, we discovered that the suspects were from Edo State, while their destination was Gashua in Yobe State.
“The two suspects who were arrested along with 715 kilograms of Indian Hemp disclosed to us that they normally convey such exhibits once a month”.

Kwara
The Chairman, Baruten Local Council of Kwara State, Mallam Musa Buge, last Tuesday berated the Federal Government for neglecting the mining sector of the economy for too long.
Buge, in a telephone interview with newsmen, said that the government had lost much revenues for its failure to explore the abundant mineral deposits in the country.
The council chief decried high rate of illegal mining operations in its boundary with the Republic of Benin.
According to him, Kaura village in the area has been a haven of high illegal mining operations.

Lagos
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, last Tuesday presented Certificates of Commendation to the families of four policemen killed by militants in Ikorodu.
Owoseni also presented similar letters to the families of four policemen injured in Ikorodu by militants.
The commissioner presented undisclosed amount of money to the policemen for their gallantry, commitment and show of loyalty to their father’s land.
The dead officers include Insp. Godwin Iroagbalachi, Insp. Francis Pemi, Sgt. Mamuda Dembo and Sgt Idor Ekoro.
The injured officers are CSP Ejiofor Obiora, DPO of Owutu division that led other officers to the rescue mission, Sgt Orumoh Awhalawibue, Sgt Olatunji Gbadebo and Sgt Alexendrer Ugbadu, who was discharged from LUTH on Tuesday.
The Tide reports that four policemen, an Army Captain and a civilian were killed by militants on April 9, at about 2.30am, at Isawo area of Ikorodu, after responding to a distress call.
Owoseni said that the police recognized the efforts and supreme price the officers paid so that some people could obtain their freedom.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Police command says it has arrested 113 persons suspected to have committed various offences in the past one month.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Kennedy Idirisu, said last Monday in Lafia that the offences ranged from armed robbery, murder, kidnapping and cattle rustling.
Idirisu said that arms and ammunition, including four AK 49 and three AK 47 riffles, as well as 178 rounds of 7.65mm live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
Other items recovered from the bandits included 500 rustled cows, 13 motorcycles and N8.9 million fake currency.
Idirisu attributed the feat to the operational strategies adopted by the command as well as the cooperation with other security agencies and community stakeholders.

Niger
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said last Tuesday that the Continuous Voters Registration beginning nationwide on April 27, would run till few months to the 2019 general elections.
The INEC’s Secretary in Niger State, Alhaji Aliyu Bungudu, made the disclosure at a one-day forum for election stakeholders held in Minna.
He said that the registration exercise was to ensure that no eligible voter was denied the right to elect leaders of their choice.
Bungudu assured the stakeholders that INEC would not shirk its responsibility in that regard, and urged them to mobilise the people to get registered.
“The voter registration exercise will continue at the local government levels when it commences, till few months to the conduct of 2019 general elections.
Ogun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun State last Tuesday held a stakeholders’ forum to sensitize the residents on the voters registration exercise scheduled to commence nationwide on Thursday yesterday.’s Administrative Secretary in the state, Mr Kayode Oladimeji, said at the forum in Abeokuta that the exercise would hold in all the 20 local government areas in the state.
He said that the exercise, which would hold between 9a.m and 3 p.m on working days, would last “till a few days to the 2019 general elections”.
Oladimeji said distribution of already printed permanent voter cards would be carried out simultaneously during the period.

Osun
The Police in Osun State last Tuesday arrested four members of a suspected five-man kidnapping gang after engaging them in a gunfire in Erin-Osun in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.
Presenting one of the suspects to newsmen in Osogbo, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Folasade Odoro, said the suspects were arrested while on their way for a kidnapping operation last Tuesday.
Odoro said the police had been on the trail of the gang for a while before luck ran out of the hoodlums, as four out of the five members of the group were arrested by the police, while one of them escaped with gunshot wounds.
She said the kidnappers had been terrorising the people of the state.

Oyo
The Oyo State House Assembly has called on heads of public schools in the state to ensure safety of the institutions’ properties, warning that any student caught in acts of vandalism would be brought to book.
The warning followed a motion entitled, “Need to Stop the Gross Abuse of Public Properties in Oyo State,’’ presented during plenary last Tuesday.
The motion presented by the member representing Atiba State Constituency, Mr Genga Oyekola, was seconded by Mrs Wunmi Oladeji (LP-Ogbomoso North).
Oyekola, while presenting the motion, said the misuse of public properties had led to wastage of scarce resources and hindered socio-economic development.

Plateau
The Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse (YIAVHA), an NGO, has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to speedily pass into law the “Not Too Young to Rrun” Bill.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Pwakim Jacob, made the call in an interview with newsmen last Tuesday in Jos.
The “Not Too Young To Run” Bill, which seeks to give room for younger people to run for any elective position in the country, had passed second reading at the NASS.
According to Jacob, if given the chance to lead, the youth will drive the economic and political fortunes of Nigeria to the greatest height.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

4 days 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

4 days 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

4 days 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.