Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

March 29, 2017

Benue
A former state commissioner in Plateau State, Amb. Yakubu Jang, has admonished Berom people not to allow divisive tendencies to take control of them.
Jang gave the advice on Saturday during the maiden celebration of “Nzem Berom” Cultural Day in Makurdi, Benue.
Jang, who was the chairman of the occasion , is also a son of the immediate past, Governor of Plateau, Mr David Jang.
He said that there was power in unity, hence the need for all Berom people to stay united in order to achieve greater things for themselves.
Jang urged Berom youths to venture into technical education to be self reliant because white-collar jobs have

FCT
President Macky Sall of Senegal has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his intervention in The Gambian political crisis which led to the restoration of democracy in the country.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr Femi Adesina, said in a statement in Abuja, last Saturday, that the Senegalese leader conveyed his gratitude to Buhari in a communication between them.
“Thank you again for your support in The Gambia. May Almighty Allah give you greater health and energy to conduct the destiny of Nigeria,’’ Sall said.
The Senegalese president described himself as Buhari’s “younger brother” and prayed that Allah would bestow good health and wisdom on him to lead.
Mr Yahya Jammeh had refused to accept his defeat in an election in December, 2016, and hand over power to Mr Adama Barrow, the winner, as President of The Gambia.

Jigawa
Rep. Ibrahim Abdullahi (APC Dutse/Kiyawa Federal Constituency) in Jigawa State, has distributed 500 bags fo fertilizers, seeds and pesticides to 100 farmers in his consistency.
Abdullahi’s Personal Assistant, Alhaji Abubukar AbdusSalam, confirmed this in Dutse on Sunday.
AbdusSalam said the farmers were drawn from Dutse and Kiyawa local government areas of the state, adding that 50 farmers were selected from each of the local government councils.
The personal assistant said that each of the beneficiaries was given two bags of fertilizer, a bag of groundnut seed, a bag of millet seed and 50 kg of pesticide.

Kano
No fewer than 5,000 people, who contravened the Kano State Environmental Sanitation Law, have so far been prosecuted, according to the State Commissioner for Environment Dr Ali Makoda.
The alleged violators were arrested and tried by the state’s mobile courts between January and March.
Makoda, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Sagir Wali, told newsmen on Saturday, shortly after monitoring the monthly sanitation exercise in eight local governments areas.
According to him, the violators were arrested along the major roads in the city during sanitation.
“We were able to arrest 5, 000 defaulters and they were charged to our mobile courts which imposed some fines on them”, he said.

Lagos
The Federal Government last weekend said it was ready to support states to generate ‘captive power’ as a permanent solution to the problem of electricity in the country.
The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, gave the assurance when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State in Ikeja.
It is reported that a captive power plant is a facility that is dedicated to providing a localised source of power to energy users.
Such users are typically industrial facilities or large offices.
The plants may operate in grid parallel mode with the ability to export surplus power to the local electricity distribution network.

Nasarawa
The Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Nasarawa state chapter, Alhaji Mohammed Hussaini, has advised herdsmen to avoid destruction of farm produce and grazing on farmlands to avert clashes with farmers.
Hussaini made the call in Akwanga while addressing newsmen on Sunday on the outcome of the meeting the association held with Fulani community of Nasarawa North senatorial district of the state, comprising Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga and Wamba in Akwanga local government area.
He said the meeting was to propagate peace and appeal to herdsmen that engaged in destruction of farm produce and grazing on farmland to desist from such act in the interest of peace and development of the state and the nation at large.
“The role of this association is to preach peace and unity, not only to the Fulani community in the state but also to Nigerians at large as no nation or society can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion.

Niger
The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Marafa, has called on youths to acquire relevant skills that would enable them contribute their quota to nation’s building.
Marafa made the call on Saturday, when the state officials of the Change Organisation, a Non Governmental Organisation, paid him a courtesy visit in Minna.
He also informed the organisation that the legislature was prepared to enact laws that would help the teeming youths in the state realise their full potentials.
The Speaker said that the present administration will not relent on its efforts to ensure the completion of the Baro Port given the employment opportunities it will create.

Ogun
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola has commended the Ogun state government on the quality of the newly constructed and rehabilitated roads across the state.
Fashola gave the commendation after touring some roads constructed by Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration in some parts of the state on Saturday.
The Minister, who expressed satisfaction with the quality of roads and flyovers inspected , commended the governor for a job well done in infrastructural development.
He assured that President Muhammadu Buhari would adequately reimburse the state and every other state in the same category.

Ondo
Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has solicited the assistance of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in boosting commercial agriculture in the state.
Akeredolu made the call when the AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, visited him on Sunday in Akure.
The governor explained that the continental bank’s support was necessary to facilitate the cultivation of high quality cocoa, palm oil and cassava in the state.
He urged the AfDB president to make the bank’s presence felt at the grassroots through agriculture for the rapid development of the state.

Osun
An auto crash which occurred at Asejire end of Osun on Friday, killed five persons while others sustained severe injuries.
Among the dead was a journalist, Nathaniel Abimbola, working with the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) in Osogbo. His friends said he was aged 48. He marked his birthday on 26 of February this year.
Abimbola, a graduate of University of Ibadan was attached to the State Assembly and had been on the beat for 10 years.
Four others who died, alongside Abimbola, were all members of Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Ayetoro Osogbo.
It was gathered that the entire occupants of the ill fated 18 seater bus were heading to Imeko headquarters of the church for a retreat.

Plateau
Pastor Victor Asemah of Shepherd House International Assembly, Jos has said that God’s blessings to Christians would become “worthless”, if those so blessed did not help neighbours in need.
“Those in need are always among us; we see them everyday and know their sufferings. If you are blessed, you must assist them otherwise your blessings are useless and worthless,” Asemah said in a sermon on Sunday, in Jos.
The Pastor, who spoke on the theme, “Supernatural Harvest for Progress’’, challenged Christians to assist the less privileged in the society, “especially the orphans, widows and others in difficulty”.
“When you help others, God increases your blessings. When we give to the needy, we have more access to his supernatural harvest,’’ he said.
Asemah described supernatural harvest as “having access to blessings outside the natural source and beyond ordinary imagination”.
“Such blessings are inexhaustible because of God’s divine connection to his children.

Sokoto
The death toll as a result of the meningitis epidemic in Sokoto State has now risen to 21.
The State Health Commissioner, Dr Balarabe Kakale, confirmed this in an interview with our correspondent in Sokoto on Sunday, as he gave an update on the state of high alert declared by the ministry since 20th March.
The deaths were recorded in the seven local governments of Kebbe, Bodinga, Rabah, Wamakko, Gada, Dange/Shuni and Tureta, mostly affected by the meningitis outbreak.
Kakale said:” the state government had since Monday deployed no fewer than fifteen medical teams, comprising of over one hundred and fifty medical personnel.
“ They were deployed across the 23 local governments of the state, fully equipped with ambulances and provided with free drugs,as well as medicament.
“ The emergency response teams were conducting house to house search, definition and management, both at home and the hospitals.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

5 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

5 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

5 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.