Connect with us

Nation

THE STATES

Published

on

Adamawa
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has donated hospital equipment to boost healthcare services in Adamawa State.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Fatima Abubakar said this in a statement last Monday in Abuja.
Abubakar explained that the former Vice President made the donation to boost healthcare facilities as well as to support hospital expansion scheme embarked on by Governor Mohammed Bindow.
She said the equipment comprise GE Brivo, X-Ray machine and ultrasound equipment for medical investigation and diagnosis.
“The donation given by Wazirin Adamawa has already boosted facilities at Jada General Hospital for effective patient care”, she said.

FCT
Concerned Imo State indigenes resident in Abuja have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the use of soldiers for last Saturday’s demolition of Eke Ukwu Market, Owerri, by the State Government.
Three people were feared dead in the incident, including a 10-year-old boy, Somtochukwu Igboanusi.
Chief Sam Obaji, who spoke on behalf of the group on Tuesday in Abuja urged Buhari to set up a judicial commission of inquiry into circumstances surrounding the use of armed personnel for the demolition.
He said that anybody involved in the unlawful operation should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“ We are disheartened that the government involved the military in a civil operation where there is no breakdown of law and order”, Obaji said.

Gombe
Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Mr Austin Iwar said last Monday that his command had apprehended 10 suspected robbers that had been terrorising residents of Gombe metropolis.
“Before us are criminals that have made life difficult for a lot of us in Gombe.
“Through intelligence report and community policing, we are proud to say that we succeeded in arresting some of them,” said the commissioner at a press briefing in Gombe.
He said that three of the suspects specialised in terrorising people at petrol stations in the metropolis.
“For some time, we had series of armed robbery attacks in petrol filling stations but through investigation, intelligent reports and the support of members of the public, we were able to arrest three of them,” he said.

Katsina
A medical doctor, Dr Ahmed Mohammed has called for regular screening for Hepatitis disease, stressing that it is only through examination that it can be diagnosed.
He made the call in an interview with newsmen last Tuesday in Katsina.
He said regular testing for the disease could assist to know one’s status.
Mohammed defined Hepatitis as inflammation of the liver and could easily lead to death of patient if untreated.
He also advised those with the condition to quickly get medical treatment and avoid self medication.

Lagos
A Christian cleric, Rev. Fr. Livinus Ikechukwu, last Monday urged groups and individuals making various agitations in the country to be peaceful in their approach.
Ikechukwu, also the Parish Head of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Ikorodu said in an interview with newsmen in Lagos that violent agitations would not bring any good changes.
The cleric warned that the only thing that would be achieved using threats and violence to make demands was chaos, destruction and retrogression.
He pointed out that peace was needed to address development issues and justice, urging for dialogue with government for better results.
“My advice to the various groups and people making agitations for one thing or the other is that they should be peaceful in their approach”, he said.

Nasarawa
The Nigeria Association of Social Work Students (NASOWS), Federal University of Lafia chapter has donated sandals worth N200, 000 to students in 16 primary and secondary schools in Nasarawa  State.
Reports say that the benefiting  schools were in Akunza and Mararaba communities in Lafia.
At the distribution ceremony last Tuesday in Lafia, Mr the President of the association, Chinaso Aweze, said the gesture was to encourage the less privileged in the society.
“The gesture was part of our social responsibility and contribution to the development of the state and to ensure poverty reduction among the people,” he said.

Niger
The Niger State Police Command says adequate security measures have been taken to ensure a peaceful Sallah festivities in the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Austine Agbonlahor made this known last Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
He said that the command would deploy undercover operatives to all Eid prayer grounds in and outside the state capital to forestall any form of security threats to residents.
“The operatives will complement the efforts of the regular security personnel that will provide security at the prayer grounds”, Agbonlahor said.

Osun
The management of the University of Ilorin recently hailed the Federal Government’s decision to lift ban on the conduct of post-UTME by tertiary institutions.
The institution said the decision would ensure quality in tertiary institutions’ education in the country.
The Director, Corporate Affairs of the university, Mr Kunle Akogun made this known to newsmen in Ilorin on Monday.
He said that most of the students admitted into the university without passing through the post-UTME screening did not meet the standard of the university.
“You know our style here; we have a very strict dressing code and a high moral standard.

Oyo
Twenty one  newly elevated High Chiefs  and Baales in Oyo State  received beaded crowns  and  staff  of office at the ancient Mapo Hall in Ibadan recently.
Reports says that the newly elevated Obas passed through spiritual rites  and proceeded to receive their staff of office from Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
Among the newly crowned kings were  former Ibadan High Chiefs, Oba Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakunleyin, the Balogun of Ibadan land, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, the  Osi –Balogun and Oba Eddy Oyewole, the Ashipa-Olubadan.
Others included Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, the Ekerin Olubadan , Oba Lateef Adebimpe, the  Ashipa-Balogun, Oba Amidu Ajibade, the Ekarun of Ibadan and  Oba Kolawole Adegbola, the Ekarun Balogun.

Plateau
The Plateau State Government says it has received 1.5 million dollars for its Save One Million Lives programme for Results (SOML) funded by the Federal Government and World Bank.
The state Programme Manager of the Save One Million Lives for Results, Mr Philimeon Dagwa , disclosed this last Monday in Jos at the opening of the Integrated Supportive Supervision training workshop it organised for 82 health workers in  the state.
Dagwa explained that the  grant was received through the state Ministry of Health for implementation of the programme.
Accrding to him, SOML provides incentives based on achievement of results (health outcomes) and helps to drive institutional processes needed to achieve these results.
He disclosed that the programme seeks to catalyze change in the way health business is done by focusing on results and governance.

Sokoto
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is to collaborate with states government on the encroachment on airport land across the country.
FAAN Managing Director, Alhaji Saleh Dunoma, disclosed this at the 15th National Council on Transportation (NCT) in Sokoto last Tuesday.
He said that residential and commercial developments are going on around airports in Nigeria without the permission and supervision of relevant authourities.
Dunoma said that the protection of the airports land would allow for development that meets international standards and free of obstructions.
“We are proposing the protection of airports land because this is the best forum for all the states government because they are all here.
“Land allocated for development of the airports all over the country was by states to the Federal Government and FAAN is the custodian of that land”, Dunoma said.

Zamfara
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised the public to desist from promotion of breast milk substitutes as food for infants under six months.
The NAFDAC Coordinator in Zamfara, Alhaji Suleman Dabo said last Sunday that it was part of the agency’s efforts to support enforcement of Breast Milk Substitutes International Code and Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding.
Dabo, while receiving officials of the Save the Children International, an NGO, during a courtesy visit in his office, said that the agency would partner with all stakeholders to promote exclusive breastfeeding culture.
He decried poor adherence to Breast Milk International Code due to low awareness among the public, especially caregivers on significance of exclusive breastfeeding.
Dabo said that NAFDAC had been using the media campaign against the aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes in the state.

Continue Reading

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

on

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.
Continue Reading

Nation

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

Published

on

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.
Continue Reading

Nation

Lagos Residents Stranded As Floods Cut Off Ajah, Mafoluku Communities

Published

on

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.
Continue Reading

Trending