Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

July 27, 2016

FCT

The police have arraigned a 20-year-old drycleaner,
Ezekiel Aerepera, in an Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, for forgery.
Aerepera of Gbagalape, Phase 1, Abuja, is facing a two-count charge of cheating and forgery.
The Prosecutor, Donaldtus Aba, told the court that the complainant, Patrick Adah of Angwan Dadi, Nyanya, Abuja, reported the matter at the Nyanya Police Station on July 13.
Aba said the defendant had in April forged the complainant’s signature of his Diamond Bank account at Nyanya branch, Abuja, and withdrew N11,000 from the said account.
He said the defendant was, however, arrested at the bank by the security men.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened sections 368 and 322 of the Penal Code, which the defendant pleaded not guilty.
The presiding officer, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
Jigawa

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Jigawa
State said it trained 179 youths, including 50 women in various income-generating trades within six months.
The NDE’s State Coordinator, Alhaji Muhammad Sambo, announced made this in an interview with our correspondent in Dutse.
Sambo said that the female beneficiaries were trained in tie and dye making under the Directorate’s Women Employment Promotion (WEP).
According to him, 40 young men drawn from Dutse were trained in auto-mobile mechanic, tailoring, carpentry and electrical installation under the agency’s Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS).
The coordinator said the B-NOAS beneficiaries were given N2,000 allowance for three months period.
He said another set of 50 from Auyo Local Government Area was also trained in interlock making, GSM repairs, motorcycle repairs, tailoring and electrical installation, under the NDE’s Basic Community Training Scheme (CBTS).

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command, said that it had ar
rested 13 suspected kidnappers and 10 armed robbery suspects in various operations it conducted in July.
The command, in a statement by its spokesman, ASP. Aliyu Usman, also said nine street gang members, locally known as ‘Sara Suka’, two notorious criminals and three others were also arrested during the period.
He said that 12 of the suspected kidnappers were those who abducted the Sierra Leone Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Maj. Gen. Alfred Claud-Nelson on Abuja-Kaduna highway on July 1.
Our correspondent reports that the envoy, who had since regained freedom, was abducted while on his way to attend a graduation ceremony at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji.

Kano

The Federal Government has earmarked over N300 mil
lion for the rehabilitation of the Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi Road.
The Zonal Coordinator, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr Sani Mohammed disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Kano.
He said that already, preparations were in top gear for the opening of the tenders for the contract in the first week of August, while work on the road is expected to commence in September.
“I want to use this opportunity to inform the various communities living along the road that work on the road will soon commence.’’
He assured that the Federal Government would ensure that the contract was awarded to a reputable contractor, in view of its contribution to socio-economic development of the people of Kano State and other neighbouring states.

Kogi

The immediate past President of Kabba Students’ Union,
Mr Adebayo Eseyin, has called on students to make adequate use of the newly-stocked community library to enhance their academic performance.
Eseyin told newsmen in Lokoja that the renovation and equipping of the library came at the right time.
He explained that Kabba students had waited too long to realise the completion of the library.
He commended the sons and daughters of Kabba, who had in one way or the other contributed to the success of the project. Eseyin, however, lamented that the needs of the students in the community were enormous and required immediate attention.
Kwara

The Director-General of Bureau of Lands in Kwara State,
Alhaji Ibrahim Salman, has denied reports that shops beside Government Secondary School (GSS), Ilorin, had been recommended for demolition.
Salman refuted the allegation while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin recently.
The director general said that he was not aware of any visit by the regulators where such recommendations were made, adding that bureau had a standing inspection team to ensure safety of projects. According to him, the only structure that was discovered to be defective had been demolished and no other shops collapsed during construction.
Lagos

A self-employed man, Afeez Raheem, 31, who allegedly
shoplifted some edibles, home utensils and clothing has appeared before an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.
The accused, whose address was not disclosed in court, pleaded not guilty to the offence of stealing preferred against him. The police prosecutor, Cpl. Mary Ajiteru, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 10, at about 1.50p.m.
Ajiteru said Raheem with others still at large shoplifted at the Eleganza Shopping Complex, Ajah, Lagos State. “Raheem and his gang invaded a particular shop within the complex and pretended to have bought one or two items.

Ondo

The police in Ondo State have arraigned a 52-year-old
woman, Grace Ikuomola at an Okitipupa Magistrate Court for standing surety for her accused son who allegedly jumped bail.
The prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that the accused, Adeola Ikuomola, 28, on Jan. 15 at 1:00pm at Ayeka in Okitipupa allegedly collected N250,000 from one Omoyele Akindoye under false pretence of processing visa to Dubai. Orogbemi said that since then, Ikuomola who stood surety for her accused son had failed to produce him in court as part of the bail conditions.
Osun

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) community,
has charged the new acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Elujoba to try as much as possible to normalise the situation on campus without further delay.
The members of the community made the appeal in separate interviews with our correspondent in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mr Ademola Oketunde, expressed satisfaction with the appointment.
Oketunde said that Elujoba’s emergence as the acting Vice-Chancellor was people’s choice and therefore advised him to try as much as possible to correct all the previous administration’s errors.
He charged him to make welfare of the staff and students a priority, adding that transparency and accountability should be the watch words in his administration.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Commissioner for Women Affairs,
Hajiya Kulu Abdullahi,said that about N2 billion loan had been accessed by the state from CBN for small and medium-scale enterprises.
Abdullahi disclosed this at a ministerial briefing in Sokoto.
She said that out of the loan, 60 per cent would specifically go to women to enhance activities of small- scale enterprises in the state.
She said that the ministry had set up an enlightenment committee to sensitise women on the need to participate in the programme.
“The sensitisation campaign is expected to educate women on the need to properly utilise the loan for the purpose it was made for towards boasting commercial activities in the state’’.
Yobe

The Yobe State Committee on Resettlement and Reha
bilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), has donated 75 wheel chairs to eight hospitals catering for displaced persons in the state.
Secretary of the committee, Alhaji Musa Jidawa, who presented the wheel chairs, said that the gesture was in recognition of the efforts of the hospitals in meeting the healthcare needs of displaced persons.
“Yobe government enjoyed the excellent partnership and synergy among health care providers in treating victims of insurgency and other displaced persons in the state.
“The working cooperation between the hospitals and other government agencies saved a lot of lives in the wake of attacks on communities in the state. “The cooperation among medical institutions had saved many victims of bomb blasts and all forms of attacks by insurgents on the communities.
“Government appreciates this synergy and, we hope to develop this working cooperation, assist the health facilities to serve the people better” he said.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

3 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

3 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

3 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.