Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

July 12, 2017

Adamawa
Governor Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa State, recently said that the administration would provide more loans to farmers to boost food production in the state.
Bindow made this disclosure at the distribution of 9,421 tonnes of fertiliser and water pumps by the Ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs in collaboration with ALGON in Yola South local government area.
He expressed the hope that the loans would assist small holder farmers to expand their agricultural activities as well as boost food production.
The governor said that the timely and adequate distribution of agricultural inputs was in fulfillment of his campaign promises.

Borno
The Borno State Police Command last Sunday, said it had deployed 3, 000 policemen to Maiduguri and other areas liberated from the Boko Haram insurgents.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the State, ASP Victor Isuzu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Isuzu said that the measure became imperative to enhance security network in Maiduguri and other communities liberated from the insurgents.
He explained that the command had taken proactive steps to deal with security threats, protect lives and property in the state.
He said that the personnel had already resumed duty in their various posts.

Ekiti
The Primate of Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, last Saturday said, “the suffering of the masses was caused by some few privileged Nigerians; who plundered the commonwealth without thinking about the poor.
He, therefore, urged Nigerian leaders to live a life that would positively affect their followers rather than earthly acquisition of wealth.
Our correspondent report that the primate said this during the burial service of former Minister of Tourism and Culture, Prof., Babalola Borishade at St Andrew Cathedral Anglican Church, Usi-Ekiti, in Ido/Osi local government area of Ekiti.
The primate, who delivered his sermon through the Arch Bishop of Ondo Province and Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Revd George Laosebikan, called on Nigerian leaders to live a life worthy of emulation.

FCT
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) last Thursday said its Agusta 109 Light Utility Helicopter suffered a mishap while undertaking a liaison mission in the North East.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.
Adesanya stated that the helicopter’s target was to further enhance synergy between Nigerian Army and NAF in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
He noted that the incidence, which occurred on Thursday, July 6, was as a result of airborne technical fault.

Kaduna
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, says President Buhari has resolved to work with Ibrahim Magu as EFCC Chairman to stamp out endemic corruption in the country.
Osinbajo, who spoke at the inauguration of the Kaduna office of the anti-graft agency last Thursday, said that those who think that they were winning in fighting back against the government’s war on corruption, should wake up.
Represented by Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Osinbajo said, so long as Buhari remained Nigeria’ s President, Magu would continue to work as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Mr Chairman, two weeks ago, I discussed the EFCC and your appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari and he told me he has every confidence in you and every confidence in the commission and the work that you have been doing, and as long as he is president you remain the chairman of the EFCC,’’ he said.

Kogi
The Nigerian Army has offered free medical and environmental sanitation services to the people of Kogi State as part of activities to commemorate the 2017 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).
Regimental Medical Officer, Medical Reception Station, Army Records, Lokoja, Maj. Michael Bokos, who led the medical team on Saturday, told newsmen that the army was celebrating itself to show its friendliness with the public.
“It is just a way to showcase ourselves to the general public that we are civil-friendly, and interacting with our communities in terms of security, sanitation, healthcare, among others.
“Today, we felt that it is necessary to come out here and offer free medical checkups and treatment to the people as directed by the Army Headquarters all over the country.

Lagos
A former Deputy Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service, Mr Musa Tahir, last Thursday, said that he had no clue why the service paid N12 million into Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia’s bank account.
Giving his testimony during cross-examination by Mr Olawale Akoni in the trial before an Ikeja High Court, Tahir said, “I have seen Hon. Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia but I have never met her one on one.
“I don’t know why the former Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko said the money should be paid into my colleague, Musa Omale’s account to be forwarded into the company’s account of the judge.
“I don’t have the paper in which the CGC wrote the directive; the paper was handed over to Omale who worked in my office.

Nasarawa
A Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, last Thursday, sentenced two men, Kabiru Ibrahim and Yusuf Danjuma, to two months imprisonment, each for smoking cannabis sativa (a.k.a.Indian hemp).
The judge, Ibrahim Shekarau, said he convicted the defendants as they admitted committing the offence.
He, however, gave the convicts N2, 000 option of fine each, and warned them to desist from committing crime.
The convicts, who had no definite addresses, were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, constituting public nuisance and making the atmosphere noxious for human health.

Niger
An economist, Prof. Kenneth Nnadi, has advised parents and guardians to encourage children to study mathematics because it was the driving force behind technological advancement.
Nnadi, a senior lecturer in the Department of Maritime Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna, on Saturday.ý
“Mathematics ýis the key to every science discipline; it sharpens intelligent quotient and boosts confidence and courage.
“Prospective scholars must dare mathematics; the dearth of mathematicians will impede global progress and force the world to a standstill.

Osun
The Osun State Government says it will continue to provide the needed support for farmers in the state in their efforts to boost food production.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Kunle Ige, made the promise when he received the executive members of the state chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Osogbo.
He pledged that the state government would continue to give the required support to all genuine farmers, without any form of discrimination, so as to boost food production and banish hunger in the state.
He said that the government had initiated plans to guarantee the farmers’ easy access to loans, agro-chemicals, farm equipment and improved seedlings, adding, however, that the government could no longer afford to subsidise the inputs.

Taraba
The Taraba State House of Assembly recently commenced public hearing on the proposed Anti- open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Bill.
Our correspondent reports that the Speaker, Mr Abel Diah, flagged off the hearing in Jalingo, with Dr. Mark Useni, Chairman, House Ad-hoc-Committee on Public Hearing on the bill, presiding.
Diah, in a brief speech, asked the stakeholders to freely contribute to the bill to enable the House arrive at a position that would be in the interest of the people.
Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), NGOs and other groups, who spoke on the bill, said that it would promote peace between herdsmen and farmers.
The Permanent Secretary in the agriculture ministry, Mr Isaac Mela, opined that the bill, when passed and signed into law, would boost both crop and animal production in Taraba.
Yobe
The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Abari camp in Damaturu, say they are now facing food scarcity, as they have planted their remaining grains in their farmlands.
One of the IDPs, Modu Bukar, told reporters in Damaturu last Tuesday that most of the IDPs had used the available grains as seeds for their crop growing.
“Most of us planted millet, sorghum and groundnuts, mostly from food assistance given to us by the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs),’’ he said.
Another IDP, Ali Mohammed, said: “We are facing food challenges because we have planted what was left with us; we will, therefore, appreciate any support extended to us,’’ he said.
Reports that a Federal Government delegation, led by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, on Monday, visited Yobe to monitor the supply of food items, under the newly launched door-to-door food distribution initiative for IDPs.

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.