Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

September 2, 2015

Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State (middle), inspecting the drawing for construction of Nyanya-Gwandara motor park, in his effort to decongest Abuja/Keffi highway in Lafia recently. With him are the Project Consultant, Mr Shehu Tukur (left) and others.

Adamawa
The Adamawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr Fatima
Abubakar, has promised to use her experience in the private sector to improve the state’s health sector.
Abubakar gave the assurance in Yola yesterday while addressing staff of the ministry on her assumption of office.
Abubakar, a daughter of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, said she had been informed about staff constraints and shortage of skilled manpower in the ministry.
She gave assurance that her office would collaborate with development partners to address such inherent challenges confronting the sector.
“I have been briefed by the Permanent Secretary on some challenges being faced by the ministry.
“These challenges include dilapidated and ill-equipped health infrastructure across the state.

Benue
The Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Mr Terkimbi
Ikyange, has assured the people of the state that the current assembly would produce quality legislation that would enhance quality healthcare delivery in the state.
Ikyange gave the assurance yesterday while interacting with heads of both federal and state governments owned health institutions in the state.
He stated that the assembly through its legislation and oversight function would ensure that health providers in the state deliver effective, efficient and timely services to the people.
He stressed that the assembly would not accept anything short of quality health delivery, adding that a healthy nation is a wealthy one.

FCT
An Abuja-based Pharmacist, Mr Osa Egwebe, has advised
against indiscriminate use of herbal medicines, saying the action can cause liver cirrhosis.
Egwebe said in an interview with newsmen in Abuja that some herbal medicines in use in Nigeria were not scientifically tested.
According to him, herbal drugs just like other medicines if not clinically tested, can be potentially poisonous and harmful to the body.
Egwebe said if drugs were not clinically assessed, they had a high risk of causing adverse reactions.
He said consuming such drugs was harmful to the body as the practice posed the risk of toxicity to the kidney, liver and other organs.
Gombe
Seven United Nations (UN) agencies on Monday
promised to support Gombe State in addressing its challenges to enable it move forward.
Madam Ratidzai Ndhlovu, United Nations Funds for Population Activities (UNFPA) Resident Representative in Nigeria, made the pledge on behalf of other agencies during a meeting of the agencies in Gombe.
“I wish to reiterate the commitment of the seven UN agencies, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR, UNDP, IOM and OCHA to support Gombe in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the state,” she said.
According to her, the UN agencies will facilitate effective growth and empowerment of all citizens, by ensuring that the state reaped from areas it had comparative advantage.

Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government has disbursed more than
N3.3 million to 249 persons affected by flood disaster in Guri Local Government Area of the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Alhaji Babandi Sale, made this known, when he visited the affected families at Musari village in Guri.
Sale said that the amount was distributed to families whose houses were ravaged by flood in the area.
He explained that some 60 families received N20, 000 each, while 186 other victims were given N10, 000 each.
Sale added that the state government had also donated N30,000 to families of one person, who lost his life in the disaster.

Kaduna
The Council of Imams and Ulama in Kaduna State, says
the effort by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in recovering stolen wealth from past corrupt officials, was commendable.
The resolution was passed in Kaduna after the council’s annual conference.
The Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Baban Tuni and the Secretary-General Yusuf Arrigasyyu, presented the resolution.

Kano
A former Councillor in Wudil Local Government in Kano
State, Alhaji Salisu Utai, has advised Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to resuscitate the various irrigation sites located in different parts of the state.
Speaking to newsmen in Kano on Tuesday, Utai said rehabilitating the irrigation sites was necessary in order to create job opportunities for the teeming number of unemployed persons in the state, especially rural dwellers.

Kogi
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Kogi State has
demanded the immediate payment of N32 billion salary arrears owed teachers in public primary schools in the state.
The state NUT Chairman, Mr. Suleiman Abdullahi, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Lokoja yesterday.
Abdullahi said that N23 billion was the outstanding arrears of the new minimum wage, while N8.7 billion was unpaid leave grants for four years.
The NUT chairman decried the development, and said that it was already taking a heavy toll on the education sector.

Kwara
A Zoologist at the University of Ilorin, Prof Uade
Ugbomoiko, has cautioned people to beware of contacting pubic lice through sexual intercourse.
Ugbomoiko gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin yesterday.
He explained that contagious parasite such as Amoebae, Trichomonas, Giardia, Scabies and Pubic lice were parasites contacted through sexual process.
“Pubic lice are parasitic insects found primarily in the public or genital area of human beings and this pubic lice is found worldwide and occurs in all races, ethnic groups, and all levels of the society,” he said.

Lagos
The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), has commended
President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing its member, Mr. Babachir Lawal, as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
This is contained in a statement issued by NCS President, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, in Lagos yesterday.
It stated that Lawal, an engineer, was a committed member of the society and a professional to the core.
The statement stated that that SGF had immense experience in the private and public sectors before he established his own consulting firm in 1990.
Nasarawa

The traditional ruler of Agwada Community, Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, has urged farmers and herdsmen in the community to ensure continued peaceful co-existence and not to disrupt the farming season.
He said that peaceful co-existence between farmers in the area and Fulani herdsmen will go a long way to boost food production in the state.
Sadiq, who is the Osu Agada, told newsmen in Agwada, Kokona Local Government Area on Tuesday that the people were mainly farmers and herdsmen.
He said their continued peaceful co-existence would boost their farming activities to the benefit of the state.

Ondo
The Provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Prof.
Olukoya Ogen, Ondo State, has assured its graduates that steps are being taken for their mobilisation for National Youth Service Corps.
Ogen made the promise when he addressed the graduates who gathered at the gate of the institution in Ondo recently.
“The management of the college will do everything possible to find solution to the problem.’’
He commended the students for their peaceful conduct and urged them to exercise patience while effort was being made to address the situation.

Oyo
Some aggrieved pensioners of Union Bank Plc have
appealed to stakeholders in the industry to prevail on the bank to complete the actuarial valuation of its pension legacy assets.
The Coordinator, Mr. Augustine Onun, Aggrieved Pensioners of Union Bank Plc, Ibadan Zone made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
Onun said that their members had been facing serious financial challenges due to the slashed monthly pension allegedly caused by the bank’s inaction on the valuation of its pension legacy assets.

Plateau
The National President of Government Secondary School,
Shendam, Old Students Association, Mr. Philip Gompang, has blamed the infrastructural decay in secondary schools in Plateau on government’s takeover of schools.
He told newsmen in Jos that the facilities in the schools were not maintained after the takeover.
Gompang said that most of the schools did not cultivate a maintenance culture after they were taken over by the government.
He also said that the standard of education in the state consequently fell as most public schools did not have the enabling environment to impart knowledge to students.
“How can you teach effectively when your buildings are dilapidated, your roof leaks and there are no library materials or computer facilities?
“The standard of education must surely decline, “ he said.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

3 weeks 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

3 weeks 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

3 weeks 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.