Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

October 7, 2016

Borno
The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, has
said that the Boko Haram insurgency is a great setback to western education in the state.
Garbai made this known when he received members of the senior course of the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information in his palace in Maiduguri on Monday.
He said that even before the advent of the Boko Haram insurgency some people were hesitant in embracing western education as they concentrated in Qur’anic education.
Garbai added that although various administration in the state had been able to convince the people on the advantages of western education, massive destruction of schools by the insurgents had resulted in great setback.
“The Boko Haram insurgents have further worsen our condition in terms of western education.

FCT
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal
Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to dismantle unauthorized speed bumps erected on highways nationwide.
The House also urged the ministry to construct pedestrian bridges at dark spots on federal highways, to avoid vehicles knocking down pedestrians.
These decisions followed a motion by Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas (APC-Adamawa) unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.
Moving the motion, Namdas noted that a number of communities along highways had constructed speed pumps to check speeding, and dangerous driving and ease crossing without the permission of the relevant ministry.

Gombe
Alhaji Umaru Goro, The Chairman, Joint Association of
Persons With Disabilities (JAPWD), Gombe State chapter, has implored the State Government to provide free education for his members.
Goro, who is also the Councillor, Muna Ward of Balanga Local Government, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Gombe.
He said many members of the association were from the less privileged families and that they should be considered for free education to eradicate illiteracy among them.
Goro added that members of the association were talented people in different areas of human endeavours and would contribute positively to the development of the society, if assisted.

Kaduna
Senator Shehu Sani (APC Kaduna Central) has urged
members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to monitor and ensure effective implementation of all projects allocated to the Northern region in the 2016 nation’s budget.
Sani gave the advice while addressing members of the Kaduna State chapter of ACF, who paid him a courtesy visit in Kaduna.
”It is high time for the Northern region to improve on our education, agriculture and all other sectors to boost our economy.
“The ACF should follow to the letter, toward ensuring that all projects earmarked in the Federal Government budget for the region, are being implemented,” he said.

Katsina
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has approved
the appointment of Alhaji Garba Sanda Mani as the new Head of Service of the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Alhaji Abdu Labaran, and made available to newsmen in Katsina.
“Your selection is in recognition of your track record of service and on the conviction that you will serve faithfully, diligently and in the best interest of the state,” the statement said.
It said the appointee was born on October 15, 1959; he began his working career in 1983 in the old Kaduna State as a Master Grade II officer in the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
It said Mani is a graduate of political science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1982.
Kwara
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has inducted 53 new
members of the Batch B medical graduates of the institution.
The Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr Ibrahim Abdulmumini, who addressed the new doctors, urged them to treat patients with love and passion. Represented by a member of the Council, Mrs Zainab Saádu, the registrar, however, cautioned that indiscipline would not be tolerated.
He said “the MDCN will not hesitate to sanction erring doctor who does not uphold the rules and regulations of the Council.”
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdulganiyu Amballi, said all facilities had been put in place to enable doctors from the institution to compete internationally. Represented by Prof. Gabriel Olatunji, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Technology and Information, Amballi urged the new doctors to be good ambassadors of the university wherever they found themselves.
Lagos
For allegedly threatening to bathe a pastor with acid and destroying his church, a 40-year-old Muslim cleric, Saheed Gbadamosi, has been hauled up before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
A resident of Aboru area of Iyana-Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, Gbadamosi, is being tried for breach of peace, assault and threat to life.
According to the prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, the accused committed the offences on September 4 at his residence.
He said the accused with others still at large conspired and assaulted Pastor Emmanuel Ugbo by beating him, destroying church property and threatening to pour acid on him.
“The accused and others also threatened to bathe him with acid if he refused to stop converting his `clients’ to his church.”

Ogun
An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State has granted a
N200, 000 bail to two men – Adelaja Oketunbi and Araoye Lukman, who allegedly destroyed 40 pieces of block and other materials valued at N20,800 at an estate.
The accused, Oketunbi, 46, and Lukman,50, whose addresses were unknown, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and malicious damage.
Prosecutor Abdulkareem Mustapha told the court that the accused with others still at large committed the offences at 3.00 p.m. at Mercy Land Estate, Onigbongbo in Atan area of Ota.
Mustapha said the accused conspired and damaged 40 pieces of blocks and other materials, all valued at N20,800.
The offences contravened Sections 351 and 451 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The duo pleaded not guilty.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone
11, Mr Dan Bature, has advised officers of Nigeria Police to key into anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Bature made this known during his official visit to the police command in Ondo, recently.
The AIG said that police should be a major stakeholder in the fight, saying that discipline, which was the hallmark of the present administration, must be the focal point of police.
According to him, there must be high level of uprightness, transparency in the endeavours of the force.
He added that police must be indulged in intelligence policing, saying that police should not relax on their duties.
Osun
Eight persons have appeared before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in Osun State over the theft of 1,000 chickens from a poultry farm.
The accused include Odebiyi Yinka, 20, Ayoola Samson, 20, Cecilia Ochilla, 35, and Elizabeth Akira, 30.
Others are: Oyelami Tajudeen, 30, Regina Philip, 40, Grace Odelia, 35, and Akira Hanna, 24.
The accused and others at large are facing charges bordering on stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Taiwo Adegoke told the court that the accused committed the offence between the months of May, June and July at Erin-Osun, Osogbo.
Adegoke said the accused conspired with others now at large to steal 1, 000 chickens owned by one Mrs Titilayo Akulo.
Plateau

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has com
mended the Plateau Government for launching an action plan to end violence against children.
The UNICEF Communication Officer, Bauchi Field Office, Mr Samuel Kaalu, made the commendation in a statement in Jos recently.
He said the launching of the plan had enlisted Plateau as the fourth state in Nigeria to do so.
He said the survey conducted in 2014 had revealed high prevalence of violence against children in Nigeria, which necessitated the launch of a National Action Plan by President Mohammadu Buhari in September 2015.

Taraba
The Taraba State Branch of the Igbo Welfare Associa
tion has awarded scholarships to 100 orphans studying in various secondary schools in the state.
The President-General of the association, Mr Mazi Nwokeocha, made the announcement in Jalingo while disbursing money to beneficiaries.
He said that the 100 beneficiaries were children of the association’s dead members.
The president-general said that each beneficiary received N15, 000 as assistance to continue his/her education.
Nwokeocha said the gesture was initiated by the association in 2007 to give families of dead members a sense of belonging.

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.