Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

September 2, 2016

Adamawa

From January 2016 to date, the Adamawa State Govern
ment has generated over N7 million revenue from the sale of timber, Permanent Secretary, Mr Barnabas Pata, Ministry of Environment, has said.
“In 2015, government discovered underground dealing and unlawful activity by the association of timber dealers, Adamawa branch.
“We invited and held meeting with the members and categorically informed them of the importance of registration and government supervision.
“I am therefore happy to inform you that, as a result of the meeting, the ministry generated over N7 million between January and today, ” Pata told newsmen in Yola recently.
Bauchi

Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State said
that previous administrations in the country were responsible for the poor state of local government councils.
Abubakar made the assertion in Bauchi while having an interactive session with the 20 council chairmen in the state.
He said that past administrations in the country had reduced activities at the local governments to nothing.
“Workers only visit the councils at the end of each month to collect salaries and allowances,’’ he said.
Abubakar said local governments, if effectively utilised, would wipe out poverty and create wealth.
He said that the country needed radical measures that would proffer sustainable solutions to the myriads of problems and scarce resources facing the country.

Borno

Alhaji Abubakar Deribe, Caretaker Committee Chairman,
Jere Local Government Area, Borno State said the council had sunk 42 boreholes with hand pumps in the area.
In addition, he said that the council constructed 20 earth dams to support the boreholes in providing water to people in the area.
Deribe told newsmen in Maiduguri that the projects were undertaken to address the problems of potable water supply in the 12 wards under his council.
He said that the projects were also conceived to minimise the heavy dependence on diesel and petrol-powered boreholes and save cost.
“Water supply has been a major problem in Jere for quite some time; so, to address the problem, we decided to do the hand pumps which are cheaper and easier to maintain”.
Ekiti

An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court has dissolved a four-
year-old marriage between Yetunde Kayode and her husband, Temitope over lack of care.
The President of the Court, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, who dissolved the union said he observed that it had broken down irretrievably.
Ogunsemi awarded the custody of the five month old baby of the union to the mother, Yetunde, saying that Temitope would be responsible for the child’s education at all levels.
He held that Temitope should pay N5, 000 as monthly feeding allowance for the child. Ogunsemi granted the respondent access to see his child whenever he wanted to.
Earlier, Yetunde, a resident of Abekoko, Falegan area of Ado-Ekiti, told the court that when she got pregnant and told her husband he gave her money to abort the child.
She said she refused to abort the pregnancy because she had once aborted a pregnancy for him, saying she was not ready to die.

FCT
Alhaji Isiwele Shehu, President of the Road Transport
Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), has called on state governments to allow local government in the country to enjoy autonomy.
Shehu made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
He said that said autonomy for the councils was one of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, which should not be ignored.

Kogi

The Kogi State Pastor of the Living Faith Church, Lokoja,
Pastor David Popoola, has urged the people of Kogi to be united irrespective of their ethnic diversities and political differences.
Popoola spoke to newsmen in Lokoja on the sidelines of the 25th anniversary celebration of the creation of the state.
He said that, though, tongue and tribe might differ, people should learn to live together in peace and harmony, and as brothers and sisters.
“We should celebrate and promote those things that unite us and do away with things that separate and divide us as a state and a nation.
“The Lord will help our leaders at all levels and give them divine wisdom to know and do what it takes to move this state to greater heights.

Kwara

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, a Non-Gov
ernmental Organisation (NGO), has called for industrialisation of Kwara State in order to boost the state’s economy.
The call is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the group’s National Coordinator, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim.
“We appeal for industrialisation of Ilorin to boost its economic power and commercial activities. The state government should create the enabling environment for this economic boost to come to reality,’’ the statement said.
The group congratulated the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari, on his 21st coronation anniversary.
“We call on the people of Ilorin Emirate to support the Emir by moving closer to him, and admonish him on the importation of some cultural behaviour.

Lagos

Governor Akinwinmi Ambode of Lagos State has or
dered the contractor handling the Berger area expansion project to deliver the project by December, 2016 or face sanction.
Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, gave the ultimatum while on inspection visit to some ongoing projects in the state, recently.
According to the statement, the governor ordered the contractors to work day and night, saying that the directive became imperative in view of the strategic importance of the axis as major gateway to the state.
It said that Ambode ordered the construction of iron barricades under the newly-completed pedestrian bridge to compel usage, save lives and facilitate free flow of traffic.
The statement also said that Ambode inspected the newly-completed lay-by at Car Wash Bus Stop in Oworonsoki and 1.65 kilometre road from Olopomeji in Oworonsoki to Ifako.
It added that Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ganiyu Johnson, said the projects, upon completion, would not only give Berger even a befitting look, but would permanently remove gridlock associated with the area.

Nasarawa

Head of Nupe community in Nasarawa State, Chief Baba
Bello, has called for truce between the state government and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the interest of the state.
He said that both parties should bury the hatchet and urged leadership of the workers to end the two-month old strike in the state.
Bello, who is Sarki Nupe of Nasarawa State, made the call while addressing newsmen in Lafia.
According to him, the strike which has lasted for two months now has brought untold hardship to the people of the state and also brought setback to the economic fortunes of the state.

Plateau

The management of Jos University Teaching Hospital
(JUTH), Plateau State, said that it had resolved the feud with its striking workers months after it started.
It said this was after a joint meeting facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Health .
Its Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Edmund Banwat, said in Jos that the meeting, brokered by the former Governor of Plateau, Senator Joshua Dariye, provided the platform where all the parties ventilated their positions on the lingering dispute.
Our correspondent reports that all had not been well between the workers and the JUTH management since March which had resulted into intermittent strikes and street protests among others.

Sokoto

The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Sokoto
Zone, has transported 8,500 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2016 Hajj in 17 flights.
Alhaji Abubakar Kaoje, the zonal coordinator of the commission, told newsmen in Sokoto that the pilgrims were from Sokoto and Zamfara States.
He said that the pilgrims were transported by Max Airline from the Sultan Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto.
According to him, 4,500 of them were from Sokoto and were transported through nine flights.

Taraba

Senior Special Assistant to Taraba State governor on
Media and Publicity Mr Sylvanus Giwa, says the digitisation of the state’s broadcasting station would be completed before June, 2017.
Giwa gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo saying that, the move was to beat the 2017 deadline for switch-over from analogue to digital broadcasting.
He said that the state government signed the contract for the full digitization of the station with Pinnacle Communication Limited in December, 2015 to ensure that the deadline was met.

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.