Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

July 26, 2017

Benue
A Benue State-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), House of Hilkiah Foundation, says educating the girl-child is a veritable tool that can help to minimise gender-based violence in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Miss Dorothy Akende said this in an interview with newsmen last Monday in Makurdi.
He, therefore, urged the three tiers of government to focus more on girl-child education.
Akende said that the group had been involved in advocacy, encouraging communities to educate the girl child through its humanitarian services and education initiatives.
The founder of the NGO added that aside supporting education initiatives, the group had continued to fight retrogressive cultural practices on the girl child in the country.

Borno
The Nigerian Army on Sunday said it had foiled a bomb attack and killed three female suicide bombers in Konduga Local Government Council of Borno State.
A statement signed by the Director Army Public Relations Brig. Gen. Sani Usman and made available in Maiduguri on Saturday night, said the incident occurred at Kawuri village of the council.
Usman said that the female suicide bombers were killed when they tried to attack a military formation in the area.
“Troops of 103 Battalion, Operation Lafiya Dole, on Saturday morning, neutralised three female suicide bombers trying to infiltrate their location at Kawuri, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
“The female suicide bombers, who were on obvious mission of committing mayhem, were spotted by a vigilant sentry while trying to access the military location.

FCT
The Director-General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Maj.-Gen. Johnny Hammakim, says more still need to be done to check violent extremism in the country even though Boko Haram has been degraded.
Hammakim said this last Monday when he declared open a four-day course on “Leadership in Counter-Terrorism and Counter, Violent Extremism’’ for senior military officers, police, para-military personnel and other stakeholders.
The course is organised by the resource centre in collaboration with the Peace Building Development Foundation (PBDF).
Hammakim described terrorism as a dynamic challenge where various issues come up every day.
“The ability to identify those issues and educate these stakeholders is very important that is why we are organising this course,’’ he said.

Gombe
The Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (MPWB), says transportation of pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia for the 2017 hajj will begin on August 2.
The Secretary, Gombe State MPWB, Alhaji Usman Gurama, announced this last Thursday in Gombe, when he briefed newsmen on activities for the 2017 pilgrimage.
He said that preparations had reached about 95 per cent, and urged the pilgrims to abide by the flight schedule.
“When we talk of preparation for this year’s hajj, as far as Gombe State is concerned, we can say it is almost over, because we have achieved more than 95 per cent level of preparation so far.
“At this material time, we are close to even commencing the airlift of pilgrims.

Kaduna
Governor Nasiru el-Rufa’i of Kaduna State last Sunday appealed to parents to inculcate fear of God in children to ensure decent society and facilitate national growth.
He made the plea at award presentation ceremony for Qur’anic memorisation and Islamic quiz completion held in Zaria.
The competition was organised by Rep. Abbas Tajuddeen (APC Zaria) for schools in 13 wards of his constituency.
el-Rufa’i, represented by Executive Secretary, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sheik Hussaini Tsoho-Ikara, said the call was necessary because fear of God was a key to success.
While stressing the importance of religious education in shaping peoples’ life, el-Rufa’i observed that in life, there was nothing better than engaging in the services of the holy Qur’an.

Kano
The Nigerian Export and Promotion Council (NEPC), has proposed to the Federal Government the approval of five billion naira to support industries in the country.
The NEPC Executive Director Mr Olusegun Awolowo, made this disclosure last Monday during an inspection visit to some industries in Kano.
“One of our major aims for this visit is to find out the challenges these companies are facing and find a way to see how we can assist them in addressing them.
“The intervention is part of the Federal Government’s Export Development Fund for industries for pre-shipment incentive for exporters, which has been stopped three years ago,’’ he said.

Lagos
An Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Olawale Oba, has advised pregnant women to embrace vaginal birth rather than Cesarean Section (CS) if they have no medical condition warranting it.
Oba, who is a Senior Registrar, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
“There are so many misconceptions about CS and vaginal birth; some women think that giving birth through vagina can slack their vagina.
“Some women are asking for cesarean section based on the fact that vaginal birth is painful.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly in Lafia last Wednesday passed a resolution, urging Gov.Umar Al-makura to arrest, prosecute and sack government officials found diverting fertilisers in the state.
The resolution was sequel to a motion on the matter, which was moved by Assemblyman Abubakar Kana (APC-Kokona West), Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, said that such action would serve as a deterrent to others and help in boosting food production in the state.
He called on farmers to report any case of diversion of fertilisers in their communities to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

Niger
Wife of the Niger State Governor and founder, RAISE Foundation Cancer Screening Centre, Dr Amina Bello, said last Thursday that the foundation would partner with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), to empower women in the state.
Bello said this when members of the state chapter of the association paid her a courtesy visit in Minna.
The foundation, an NGO, was established to raise awareness and spur affirmation on issues affecting the survival and growth of women and the girl-child.
Bello said that through the partnership, both organisations would engage in advocacy for improved reproductive health rights,awareness campaign on maternal and child health and development of the girl-child.

Ogun
For breaking into a church and stealing a set of drums valued at N75,000, a 44-year-old man, Prosper Onaka, is to spend the next three years in prison, an Ogun State court ruled last Monday.
An Ota Magistrates’ Court ordered that Prosper Onaka should be sent to jail for three years for breaking into a church and stealing a drum set worth N75,000.
The Senior Magistrate, Mr S.O. Banwo, who gave the ruling, did not give the convict an option of fine.
The Tide source eports that Prosper, whose address is unknown, had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of stealing and burglary brought against him.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Chudu Gbesi, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 11 at 6.30.p.m. at Iyana-Iyesi near Ota.

Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has described the death of the popular playwright, Adebayo Faleti, as a huge loss to the Yoruba language and cultural heritage.
In a condolence message issued on Monday in Osogbo by his media aide, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola said Faleti was a ‘complete man of the theatre – an actor, director, choreographer and designer ’ who created performance spaces influenced by traditional architectural forms. ‘’
He said the appearance and dressing of Faleti spoke volumes of his origin, adding that he was always ready to advocate the promotion of Yoruba language and culture.
”I received with great sadness, news of the passing away of one of Nigeria’s gifted scholars, culture icons, nationalists and top-on-the-shelf dramatists, Pa Adebayo Faleti.
”The death of the playwright, theatre director and teacher was a huge loss not only to the creative world alone but also to the world of Yoruba language and culture heritage which he promoted till his death,’’ he said.

Yobe
A team of 25 doctors and other medical personnel have conducted successful surgeries, blood transfusions, emergency cases and general consultations for 650 patients at a medical outreach in Buni-Yadi, Yobe State.
Chairman MaiGoje Foundation, Dr Mohammed Goje, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen last Sunday in Damaturu.
He said the foundation, Smile Mission and Edushine Organisation on Saturday, organised the outreach to provide healthcare service to the people.
According to him, the decision to organise the retreat is due to lack of functional health institution in Buni Yadi since the residents returned after their displacement by insurgents.
Goje said the doctors came from Kano, Abuja, Lagos, Maiduguri and Damaturu to provide free medical services to the community.
He said the outreach attended to cases of gynecology, pediatrics, dental, ear, nose and throat, and general ailments.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

1 week 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 week 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 week 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.