Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

April 26, 2017

Bauchi
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State on Saturday directed medical personnel in the state to offer free treatment to victims of auto crash that occurred along Bauchi-Gombe road.
Report that Abubakar gave the directive at Bara Town, Kirfi Local Government Area of the state, when his convoy stopped at the scene of an accident.
He directed that, some of the vehicles accompanying him should be used to convey the victims from Bara to Alkaleri General Hospital for treatment.
Abubakar, who was on his way to Gombe for an official engagement, had arrived few minutes after the accident occurred, and ordered his personal physician to offer first aid treatment to the victims.
An eye witness told newsmen that the accident occurred when a vehicle conveying 14 passengers had a tyre burst and somersaulted.

Benue
A reprisal attack by suspected herdsmen on Tse Igba Uke and Aliade villages in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State has left one person dead and many others injured, the police have confirmed.
Asp. Moses Yamu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the command in the state, confirmed the incident to newsmen last Thursday in Makurdi.
He said, the suspected herdsmen carried out the attack on Wednesday night, following an attack on their cattle by some youths of the village.
He also said, the corpse of the villager killed during the incident had been deposited at the Aliade General Hospital and the injured receiving treatment in the same hospital.
Yamu also told journalists that, angry youths took to the streets, on Thursday, following the reprisal attack on the village and barricaded Aliade Federal highway to protest the killing of one of their own.

Ekiti
The Ekiti State Police Command last Thursday, confirmed the killing of Mr Sunday Afolabi, an Assistant Superintendent with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Ekiti State.
Reports had it that, Afolabi was allegedly killed by yet-to-be-identified assailants along Afao Road in the evening of Wednesday.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO), of the state police command, Mr Alberto Adeyemi (SP), told newsmen in Ado-Ekiti that preliminary investigations had revealed that Afolabi was killed by suspected cultists.
He said that, his body had been deposited at the morgue of the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti.
The NSCDC spokesman, Mr Tolu Afolabi, who also confirmed the killing to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday, said that further investigations into the incident had commenced.

FCT
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has urged troops in the North East to remain steadfast in prosecuting the counter insurgency as history would not forget them.
The army spokesman, Brig-Gen. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Sunday, that Buratai stated this during a visit to troops at Pulka and Gwoza in Borno.
Usman, said the visit was to assess troops in the ongoing “Operation Deep Push” to clear remnants of Boko Haram terrorists around Sambisa forest.
Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj-Gen. Idris Alkah, said that, the Nation was proud of their efforts in maintaining peace and order.

Kano
The Kano State chapter of RedCross Society on Sunday distributed relief materials worth millions of Naira to 516 Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs), in the State.
The Red Cross Chairperson in Kano, Dr. Urrata Balla, presented the materials to the IDPs at Hotoro in Tarauni and Gaida in Kumbotso Local Government Areas of the state.
Balla said, the gesture was necessary due to the condition IDPs found themselves.

Katsina
The Police Command in Katsina State says, it has arrested 22 victims of Human Trafficking in Katsina Metropolis.
The command said it has also arrested their Trafficker, Mannir Suleiman.
Superintendent of Police, Andrew Alpolsus, the Officer in charge of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad in the state, presented the victims and the Trafficker to newsmen last Thursday in Katsina.
“The Police have arrested 12 young women of between the ages of 17 and 22 years and 10 men at a house at Kwando area of the Katsina metropolis.
Alpolsus said, the victims were on their way to Niger Republic when policemen intercepted and rescue, them.

Lagos
The president, of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs Umma-Kalsum Buratai, on Saturday received the wife, of the Bangladeshi Chief of Army Staff (COAS) at its secretariat in Lagos.
Mrs Buratai, who received the wife of the Bangladeshi COAS, Mrs Shoma Huq, at the NAOWA Secretariat, Ikoyi, Lagos expressed appreciation for the visit.
She added that, it was a good development that would further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Mrs Buratai urged women to always be positive, adding that if the women get it right, the family will also get it right.
Mrs Huq commended NAOWA for their charity programmes, adding that, life was all about giving.

Ogun
The Octagon Nigeria, an NGO on Saturday, said it had given scholarship of N1 million to children of widows in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun.
Mr Olatunji Egbewunmi, the founder of the NGO, disclosed this at the 3rd Anniversary Lecture/Award ceremony organised by the organisation in Ota, Ogun.
The lecture was entitled, “The Role of a True Leader in Economic Development”.
The Octagon Nigeria was established in 2014 with a mission to support the plight of the vulnerable segment, especially widows and their children, to become productive in the society through advocacy, economic empowerment and human rights programmes.
Egbewunmi, said that 10 children of widows benefited from the scholarship programme.
He said that the initiative was to provide qualitative but free primary and secondary education for gifted children of the poorest widows in the country.

Oyo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo state command, said it arrested 51 suspected drug traffickers and addicts from January to date.
A statement by the state command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs Mutiat Okuwobi, on Sunday in Ibadan, disclosed that, 1,933.28 kg of drugs were also seized during the period.
The PRO added that, the agency also got the conviction of 17 drug traffickers with jail terms ranging from six months to five years in the period under review.
She said, interventions were also given to some drug dependant persons through counselling after which they were reintegrated into the society.
The PRO said some drug users were still undergoing rehabilitation.
She said that, the command would continue to do its best to frustrate the activities of drug peddlers in the state.

Yobe
A Yobe philanthropist, Dr Muhammed Goje, last Saturday, awarded scholarship to 20 students from Gujba and Gulani Local Government Areas, to enhance education recovery in areas most affected by Boko Haram insurgency.
Muhammad, presented the awards to the beneficiaries in Damaturu.
He said, the beneficiaries were mostly orphans who lost their parents to insurgency and others from financially less privileged families.
“The beneficiaries have the required qualification for admission into tertiary institutions but lack the support to advance their studies,” he said.
He said, Gujba and Gulani Local Government Areas were the most devastated areas by insurgency that needed special approach for education recovery.
“The level of damage is so monumental for government to handle alone, individuals, groups and non-governmental organizations must give Yobe state government, a helping hand.

Zamfara
The Nigeria Police Force, is set to construct 500 housing units in Zamfara under its new Housing Scheme.
Maigari Dikko, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), in-charge of Logistics and Supply, said this last Thursday, while on a one-day working visit to the Zamfara State Police Command in Gusau.
The DIG said that, part of his visit to the state was to solicit land allocation from the state government for the police to construct the housing units.
Dikko, said that the new housing policy was initiated to end the housing problem among the rank and file, and would be on an “Owner-occupier basis”.
“It is unfair for one to have served the nation for 35 years and end up with no personal accommodation,” he said.

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.