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THE STATES

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Benue
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the assassination of  Principal Senior Special Assistant to Governor Samuel Ortom on Knowledge, Economy and Investment, Mr Tavershima Adyorough.
Adyorough was also a member of the Benue State Economic Team.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashir Makama told newsmen last Sunday in Makurdi that Adyorough was assassinated in the early hours of Sunday.
“He was killed in his house by bandits, who also shot his wife. The woman is currently responding to treatment at a government hospital in Makurdi,” he said.
The commissioner said that the motive of the killing was yet to be established, but expressed optimism that the culprits would be apprehended and brought to book.

Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s return to Nigeria, after a medical vacation in London, as a big boost toward ending the Boko Haram terrorism in the North- East.
Shettima stated this in a statement signed by his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, in Maidugur last Sunday.
He congratulated the entire people of the North-East on the return of the president.
“The people of the North-East should be congratulated as the major beneficiaries of Buhari’s return because of his open love, empathy and keen interest in addressing the security challenges in the sub-region,’’ Shettima said.
He said that aside from his zeal in fighting insecurity, the president had been magnanimous in appointing individuals from the sub-region into key Federal Government positions.

Ekiti
The Ekiti State House of Assembly last Sunday congratulated the state Deputy Governor, Dr Kolapo Olusola on his elevation to the rank of a Professor.
The deputy governor was last week appointed a Professor in Building Technology by the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife.
The appointment was backdated to 2012.
He had being a lecturer for no less than 20 years before venturing into partisan politics and was, subsequently, made the deputy governor of Ekiti, his home state.
The speaker of the Assembly, Mr Kola Oluwawole Oluwawole, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, described the honour as well-deserved, thanking God for making the him reach the zenith of his academic career.

FCT
A member of the National Assembly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s return from his medical vacation in London, saying it will end controversies surrounding his long absence.
Buhari left Nigeria on May 7 for medical attention in England and returned last Saturday after 104 days.
Although, he handed over power to the Vice President in compliance with the Constitution, his long absence elicited varied commentaries and protests, with some urging him to “resume or resign”.
Abaribe, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, told newsmen  in Abuja that the president’s return was good news for Nigerians, and “will end the controversies that trailed his stay in London”.

Jigawa
The Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), says it has begun the biometric verification of its staff to uncover ghost workers.
The board’s spokesman, Mallam Wasilu Umar, made this disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Umar said the exercise would cover staff at the SUBEB headquarters in Dutse, as well as in the Local Government Education Authorities (LEAs) across the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.
He quoted the chairman of the verification committee, Alhaji Hamza Aliyu, as saying this while, addressing members of the committee at a meeting on the development.

Kano
Kano State Government and Dangote Group have donated N500 million each as assistance to victims of the fire outbreak that occurred early this year in five major markets in Kano.
The Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote announced the donation last Saturday in Kano.
Dangote, who headed the appeal fund committee for the victims, said the gesture was to ameliorate the suffering of those affected by the disaster.
“Times are hard and if not for the recession which we are also affected I would have donated more than this amount,” he said.
He called on other wealthy individuals and organizations to come to the aid of the traders.

Kwara
The Police in Kwara State last Thursday assured that adequate security would be provided during the councils elections in the state slated for November 4.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Ado Lawan, gave the assurance while receiving members of Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) led by the Chairman, Dr AbdulRahman Ajidagba who visited him.
The commission’s visit was in continuation of its sensitization calls to security agencies and other stakeholders toward achieving credible, fair and free election.
Lawan said that the command was working round-the-clock to ensure a trouble-free councils poll in every part of the state.

Lagos
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) last Sunday said the jubilation that followed the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari was an indication that the country had no alternative to him now.
Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the Chairman, South-West Chapter of the union, told newsmen in Lagos that Nigerians were in happy mood with the arrival of their President.
“We believe in our president and I can tell you, categorically, that there is no alternative to Buhari in moving the country forward,” he said.
According to the Chairman, the people came out immensely to welcome him, because they believed in him to turn around the ailing economy.

Niger
The Niger State Government says it has spent N3 billion to rehabilitate nine secondary schools under the first phase of its Whole School Development Approach Programme.
Hajiya Fatima Madugu, Commissioner for Education, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen last Monday in Minna, said that three schools were selected from each of the three sentatorial districts.
She said that the second phase of the rehabilitation, which would focus on technical colleges and vocational training centres, would soon commence.
According to her, two technical colleges and two vocational schools will be rehabilitated from each senatorial zone.
Ogun

A former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili last Sunday said that the demands by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were unrealistic in light of the current economic situation in Nigeria.
Ezekwesili said this while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan while reacting to the ongoing strike embarked upon by the union.
The former minster said that lasting solution to the crisis bedevilling the education sector could only be found from strong analysis of the issues raised by ASUU and evidenced based policies.
“Money is not limitless and yet everyone must acknowledge that investment in education is crucial and it is key.

Osun
The Osun State Police Command says it has arrested a 23-year-old suspected internet fraudster (name with/held) for allegedly duping an American of 80,000 dollars (N28.8 million).
Police Commissioner, Fimihan Adeoye, told newsmen in Osogbo that the suspect allegedly committed the crime by posing as a woman to the unsuspecting man on a dating site on the internet.
Adeoye said the victim, who was looking for a serious relationship with a woman, was however scammed by the suspect to the tune of 80,000 dollars.
He said the suspect was apprehended with the help and information the command received from an anonymous source.
“He presented himself as a woman on the internet and he succeeded in seeking the friendship of his victim who thereafter paid the money into his account.

Plateau
The Plateau State chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), has pleaded with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to extend its support to private schools in rural communities.
Its  Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Uzoji, told newsmen last Sunday in Jos, that access to educational materials in rural communities was difficult, urging the board to intervene.
“Access to educational materials in rural communities is very minimal. SUBEB should intervene to augment what proprietors of the primary schools in hinterlands can afford,” he said.
Noting that 75 per cent of Nigerian children attend private primary schools, he said that government must show more interest in the quality of what the children were getting.

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REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

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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.
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Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

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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.
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Lagos Residents Stranded As Floods Cut Off Ajah, Mafoluku Communities

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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.
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