Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

March 17, 2017

Bauchi
Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari, on Monday in Bauchi called for synergy between his agency and the media in tackling some of the security challenges of the country.
Making the call when he visited the Bauchi Zonal Office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abari said joint effort in sensitizing members on the need to shun acts that could jeopardize the unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigerians, was desirable now, than ever before.
According to him, the roles of the media have gone beyond the traditional “education, entertainment and enlightenment”, but have encompassed a greater challenge of “agenda setting” for the people.
He said that security challenges resulting from disagreements among people on issues that could otherwise be peacefully resolved, to other wider security issues, had made it paramount to intensify sensitization efforts, not only for people to embrace dialogue, but also become security conscious.
“Such discharge of social responsibility calls for synergy between NOA and the media, in view of the fact that our goals are similar.

Borno
Borno State Government on Thursday said it had constructed 1,760 boreholes for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to participate in dry season farming in three Local Government Areas.
Director, Engineering Infrastructural Services, Borno Agricultural Development Programme (BOSADP), Mr Abdull Ahmad, said this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Ahmad said the affected persons were located in Konduga, Jere and Damboa Local Government Area.
He said the state government, National Programme for Food Security (NPFS), FADAMA three and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) would jointly sponsor the programme.
He said about N24.3 million had been spent on the programme, adding the amount was expected to cover 70 per cent of the project in the areas.

FCT
The office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Tuesday said it was partnering with the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) to prevent and counter violent extremism in the country.
The Coordinator, Counter Terrorism Centre (CTC) of ONSA, Commodore Yem Musa, said this while presenting a paper during validation meeting with the members of the two organisations and conveying the message of the NSA to the members
Musa said that the message was on the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in the country.
He said that in August 2016, the working group of the organisation served as a broad-based consultative and multi-stakeholders platform for countering violent extremism in the country.

Kaduna
The Chairman, Committee on Information, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Mr Nuhu Shadalafiya, said the Committees would soon start their oversight functions.
Shadalafiya said this on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen shortly after the Plenary.
The legislator was responding to a petition written to the house by some indigenes of the state over the non- chalant attitude of some companies in their area, especially on Corporate Social Responsibility.
He said the house had received complaints through their members.
“I believe in no distant time, the committees that are relevant to the organisations would begin to go for oversight functions to check the environment.
“See if the environment are friendly and if the products coming out are consumable,’’ Shadalafiya said.

Kwara
The Chairman , Kwara State branch of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria Mr. Babatunde Samuel has cautioned Nigerians against over consumption of junk foods and sedentary lifestyle to reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease.
Samuel gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin on Wednesday.
The pharmacist said that people who were overweight had a chance of developing end stage renal disease compared to those of normal weights.
He recommended routine urine and blood tests for people to know the medical status of their kidney before it reached advanced stage.

Lagos
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, on Tuesday urged parents, teachers and the state schools management board to properly monitor children and students in their care.
Owoseni made the plea while briefing newsmen on the arrest of some suspected criminals including 10 secondary school boys aged between 11 and 16 years in Lagos.
“We appeal to parents and teachers in both Secondary and Primary Schools to improve on the monitoring of their children and students in their custody.
“ It gives us concern, as law enforcement agents that schools and homes are no longer doing their duties, but encouraging criminality.
“It is recurring that those we classified as children are taking to criminality,’’ the Commissioner of Police said.
He said that the underage suspects were caught in possession of cutlasses, axes and other dangerous tools.
Owoseni said that the students, during interrogation, claimed they armed themselves because of a conflict between students of two schools in Apapa area.
He said that the students would not be paraded because of their age.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government in collaboration with the World Bank on Wednesday, donated 19 vehicles and 63 motorcycles to the health sector to boost service delivery in the state.
The state Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Agara, while presenting the vehicles to the beneficiaries in Lafia, said the effort was also to facilitate proper supervision for effective healthcare service delivery to the people.
“The quality of primary health service delivery depends largely on the strength of supervision.
“It is in view of this that the state government, in collaboration with the World Bank, supported the procurement of 18 Toyota Hilux vans, One Toyota Hiace bus and 63 motorcycles.
‘’The efforts is through the Nigeria State Health Investment Project (NSHIP) in the state.
“The 13 Local Government Primary Healthcare (PHC) departments will get a van each, three for Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NSPHCDA), while the state Hospital Management Board will get two vans and a bus,’’ Agara said.

Niger
The Niger State Police Command says it has charged two suspects at a Minna Magistrates’ Court with the killing of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Aaron Sunday, serving with Kpakungu Division Minna, by suspected hoodlums.
Mr Zubairu Muazu, Commissioner of Police, disclosed this to the newsmen in Minna on Tuesday.
He said that 14 others were also charged with causing civil disturbances during the incident that led to death of the police officer.
He explained that the command would ensure diligent prosecution of all those allegedly involved in the deadly act.
He said that already, the command had evolved aggressive intelligence gathering to strengthen security in the state .
“ We have deployed armed police operatives in and outside the metropolis for the arrest and prosecution of men of underworld .”
He explained that the command had identified some criminal hideout across the state.

Ondo
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has promised an effective women participation in his government that will supersede the United Nations 35 per cent affirmative action.
Akeredolu said this on Wednesday at the 2017 International Women’s Day celebration with the theme: ‘Women, Be Bold for Change’.
The governor said that day was a time to celebrate the socio-economic and political achievements of women across the globe.
He pledged to involve more women in his administration as well as support their programmes.
“We will take deliberate steps to engender more participation of women in our leadership system.
“We will also take deliberate steps to encourage and increase women programmes in key areas in our administration, especially, in health and agriculture.

Osun
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State last Thursday said the death of retired Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, the former Military Governor of defunct Western Region, had robbed Nigeria, especially Yoruba race, of a patriotic elder statesman.
Aregbesola, who made this known in a condolence message by his media aide, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, in Osogbo! said he joined other well-meaning Nigerians in commiserating with the family of the deceased who was the President of the socio-political group, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE).
“General Adeyinka Adebayo served his fatherland well. He was a fine officer of the Nigerian Army and did his best in all the capacities where he served.
“The history of our country is incomplete without mention of this fine officer.”
Recalling Adebayo’s interests in the growth and the development of the Yoruba race, Aregbesola, said the former President of the YCE stopped at nothing to ensure the unity and progress of the Yoruba people.

Oyo
The National Coordinator, Campus Cult Eradication Foundation (CCEF), Mr Samuel Ejembi, says 248 persons are ready to renounce their membership of various campus cult groups in various tertiary institutions in Oyo State.
Ejembi disclosed this on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting with Chief Security Officers (CSOs) and Deans of Students Affairs of all the tertiary institutions in the state, held at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
CCEF is a non-governmental organisation working in conjunction with the Office of Inspector-General of Police (I-GP) to curb the menace of cultism in tertiary institutions in the country.
Ejembi noted that 115 among the 248 persons that want to renounce campus cultism are not students, while the remaining 133 comprises both male and female students.

Plateau
The Plateau Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs Rufina Gurumyen, has challenged women to step up and improve their productive worth in the society.
Gurumyen said this at the celebration of the International Women’s Day organised by the Association of Women in Colleges of Education (WICE), North Central Zone.
She described women as mentors, role models, icon of peace and symbols of integrity in the society.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

14 hours 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

14 hours 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

14 hours 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.