Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

May 19, 2010

Bauchi

Alhaji Yahaya Jalam, the Bauchi State Commissioner or health has pleaded with health workers to ensure judicious distribution and effective utilization of drugs provided by government in public hospitals across the state.

Jalam made the call recently in Bauchi during the de-briefing of the mosquito net distribution exercise.

The Tide’s correspondent recalled that the government had, in 2008, introduced free medical treatment and food supplement scheme for children under the ages of five and for pregnant mothers in its hospitals.

The Scheme was designed to enhance health care delivery and reverse the trend of high maternal and infant mortality rate in the state.

FCT

Ustaz Musa Muhammad, the Chief Imam of the Abuja national Mosque, has called on Nigerians to continue to pray for the peace and stability of the nation.

Muhammad made the call in Abuja in an interview with newsmen shortly after the juma’ at prayers.

He urged Nigerians to intensify their prayers “as the country marches toward the 2011 general elections”.

Muhammad stressed the importance of Juma’ at prayers and urged Muslims to take advantage of it to supplicate to God for their needs and ask for forgiveness for their sins.

Kaduna

Farmers in Zaria and its environs have expressed concern over the delay in the supply of fertiliser for this year’s farming season.

An investigation conducted by The Tide’s source in Zaira revealed that farmers have already started clearing their farmland in preparation to commece farming.

Alhaji Aliyu, Africana a farmer in the area, told the source that the commodity usually arrive late when farmers had already resorted to other althernatives.

“Most of us do not wait for fertilizer procured by the government; we source for the commodity from the black market.

“Nevertheless, I want to appeal to the state government to expedite action and ensure availability of the commodity in good time”, Africana said.

Kogi

The Kogi State government has commenced the implementation of the white paper on the crisis in Ebira land, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Tom Ohikere, has said.

Ohikere told newsmen in Lokoja, that the move was to find lasting solution to the crisis in the area.

According to him, government has commenced the banning of masquerade outing in Ebira land in line with the recommendations of the white paper.

The law banning masquerades came into being during the first civilian administration in the state.

Ohikere said that government had equally granted permission for the setting up of a vigilance group to check questionable movements and behaviours, especially in Okene and other suburbs.

He said that names of identified persons, who were behind the crisis had been submitted to the security agents for necessary action.

The commissioner also told our source that government was considering “hosting a broad-based economic summit, to enable experts do a brain-storming on various social and economic issues capable of turning around the economy of the state for good.

Lagos

The Acting General Manager of the National Theatre, Lagos, Alhaji Yusuf Atai said about N6.5 billion would be needed to renovate the edifice.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen Atai said the national monument has become decrepit following several years of neglect.

“The National Theatre is like a village, so it requires huge amount of money to maintain. The facilities and buildings are in a deplorable state,” he said.

According to Atai, since 1976 when the structure was built by the Bulgarian contractors, no major renovation had been done to keep the building in shape.

“In the master plan, the instruction left by the contractors was that renovation should be done on the structure after 10 years, but for over 34 years now, no major renovation has been done”.

Niger

A High Court in Minna has ordered that the suspended Chairman of Rafi Local Government Council in Niger, Alhaji Ali Kagara, be reinstated.

In his judgment, Justice Aliyu Maiyaki ruled that “the appointment and swearing-in of the Acting Chairman of Rafi Local Government Council is declared “null and void.”

“He should vacate the office of the Chairman of Rafi Local Government Council forthwith.

“The defendants are also ordered to reinstate the plaintiff to the office of the executive chairman of Rafi Local Government Council forthwith and pay to him all his emoluments for the period he was unlawfully removed from office”, the Judge ordered.

Reacting to the judgment, Kagara expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the judgment and the judicial system for upholding his fundamental rights.

Oyo

A dietician at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Mrs Iyabode Alabi, has advised Nigerians to consume more water as against soft drinks and processed fruit juice.

Alabi, the head of Department of Dietetics, told newsmen Ibadan that “many Nigerians consume more soft drinks because we attend social parties a lot.”

She further said: “Water transports nutrients from the body into the cell and allows free bowel movement.”

“Soft drinks do not contain any other useful nutrients to the body, their sugar content is high and also contain high caffeine.

“Caffeine is a stimulant which increases the body’s nervous activities, so it is not good especially if you are hypertensive or have stomach ulcers.”

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

1 month 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 month 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 month 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.