Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

August 17, 2017

Borno
The United Nations says it has distributed fertiliser, seeds and other inputs to 1.2 million farmers displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.
The UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Peter Lundberg told newsmen in Maiduguri that the gesture was to assist farmers who had returned to their homes in liberated communities.
Lundberg disclosed that the UN and its partners were currently providing food support to 1. 3 million displaced persons on monthly basis in the region.
He said that the measure was part of a comprehensive support programme to enhance food security and tackle humanitarian crisis occasioned by the insurgency.
“For the UN, food security situation is one of the major issues,” he said.

FCT
A combined military training organised by the United States Air Force (USAF) Command in Europe in partnership with the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has opened in Lagos.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja. Adesanya said the week-long programme with the theme: “Aeromedical Evacuation and Medical Deployment”, began last Monday at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja.
He said the programme would bring together countries in Africa to simulate a combined security and humanitarian environment.
Declaring the programme open, Governor Akinwumi Ambode, said the combined training was a welcome development.

Kano
A Kano Chief Magistrates’ Court recently ordered the remand of a teenager, Abdul Ibrahim in prison custody for allegedly defiling an eight-year-old boy. Ibrahim, 18, who lives in Brigade Quarters in Kano, is facing a charge of defilement. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Pogu Lale, told court that one Umar Jibrin of Tudun Murtala Quarters, Kano, reported the case at the Gwagwarwa Police Division in Kano on June 1. Lale said that on May 31 at about 7:00 p.m., the accused deceived and lured the boy to his brother’s shop situated at Brigade Market, Kano.
“The defendant deceitfully had canal knowledge of the boy and gave him the sum of N30,” he said.

Kebbi
Staff of Kebbi State House of Assembly last Monday embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of their allowances for the past three years. It was gathered that the strike stalled the activities of the House as the workers’ chants made it impossible for the members to communicate, forcing a quick adjournment. Chairman, Kebbi State chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Garba, who briefed newsmen on the action, said that workers were left with no other option after pleas to management yielded no fruits.
“We have pursued the payment of these allowances for the past three years.
“We have made several appeals and held meetings with the leadership of the House on the issue but to no avail,” he said.

Kwara
Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdul Ganiyu Ambali, has pledged to hand over a better institution than he inherited five years ago, to his successor.
Ambali, whose five-year tenure ends on October 15, 2017, disclosed this during an interview with newsmen last Tuesday in Ilorin. The vice-chancellor noted that his administration had done its best towards sustaining the legacies of the founding fathers of the University.
He added that he had also succeeded in maintaining an uninterrupted academic calendar as well as ensuring peace on campus.

Lagos
No fewer than 62 juvenile offenders and 67 inmates with disabilities held at Kirikiri Female Prisons and Kirikiri Medium Prisons, Lagos, were recently released on the orders of the State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade. She said her intervention particularly at the female prisons was part of efforts to address the problem of under-aged offenders being locked up in prisons across the state. Our correspondent reports that Atilade had on August 1 released 80 juvenile offenders held at Badagry Prison, Lagos, for sundry offences.

Nasarawa
The Joint Union of Tertiary Institution (JUTI) has called on the Nasarawa State Government to enrol its workers in the contributory pension sheme.
The Chairman of the union, Mr Ariks Bashayi told newsmen in Lafia yesterday that the call became necessary in view of the problems that had beset the existing pension scheme. “Under the current pension scheme, a lot of our staff who retired from service more than firve years ago have not been able to receive pension or gratuity, he explained. Bashayi also urged the managements of all the Nasarawa state owned tertiary institutions to allow their workers to join the contibutory pension scheme.
The College of Education Akwanga (COEA); State Polytechnic Lafia; College of Agriculture Lafia; and Nasarawa State University in Keffi are some of the state-owned tertiary institutions.

Niger
The Niger State House of Assembly has pledged to enact laws that would ensure an environment conducive to woo investors to the state.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Marafa, made the pledge in Minna during the 2017 Niger State Investment Summit which had as its theme: “Impact Investing for Advancing Agricultural Economy and Innovation.”

Oyo
A divorce-seeking housewife, Risikat Ojo, says her husband, Mathew Ojo, deserts home whenever Eid-el-Kabr and other festivals draw nearer in order not to spend money during the festival periods.
Risikat testified recently in an Idi-Ogungun Customary Court, Agodi, Ibadan, in a divorce suit she filed against her husband.
“My lord, Ojo did not pay my dowry and was in the habit of abandoning me at home and pack out to unknown destination whenever Ileya festival and other festivals draw nearer.

Plateau
The Plateau State Police Command has advised motorists to protect their vehicles with security gadgets.
It advised motorists to protect their vehicles with steering and pedal locks in addition to inscribing their vehicles’ registration numbers on the two windscreens, side mirrors and other parts. The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Terna Tyopev, gave the advice in a statement made available to newsmen last Tuesday in Jos. According to Tyopev, the advice became necessary because of the rising incidents of car theft in the state.
“We have observed with so much concern the rising spate of car theft within Jos and the environs, this is mainly because people park their vehicles with any form of security”, he said.

Sokoto
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State last Tuesday urged corps members posted to the state to consider themselves as agents of change.
Tambuwal made the call at the closing of 2017 Batch ‘A’ stream II, NYSC orientation camp in Sokoto State. The governor urged them to freely mingle with the communities as well as engage actively in activities that would contribute toward economic development of the state. The Governor, represented by State Head of Service, Dr Abubakar Bello, urged corps members to also strive toward eradication of poverty, fight against corruption, drugs abuse and other social vices.

Zamfara
Chairman, Zamfara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, has attributed low turnout of electorate to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) and participate in Continuous Voters Registration in the state to insecurity.
Attahiru, who is the Emir of Anka, stated this at his palace, Anka, last Tuesday, when he received in audience the state committee on mobilisation and awareness creation on the collection of PVCs. The 14-man committee was led by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji. The emir noted that insecurity situation faced by the state had resulted to underdevelopment in various sectors, including PVC registration.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

2 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

2 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

2 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.