Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

July 5, 2011

Adamawa

No fewer than 1,200 youths in Adamawa have benefited from the Rural Agriculture Development Training Scheme (RADTS) of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in the past five years.

The state NDE Coordinator, Alhaji Abubakar Nuhu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Yola yesterday.

Nuhu said that RADTS was among the series of youth empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes introduced by the NDE in 2005.

He explained that under the programme, trainees underwent both theoretical and practical training in their chosen fields of agriculture.

“After theoretical training, we attached trainees to well established farms for their practicals.”

He commended the state government for its support and cooperation with the NDE to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.

FCT

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the military to help ensure a freer flow of traffic on FCT highways.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Acting General Secretary of NLC, Mr Owei Lakemfa and made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja.

While appreciating the fact that the military check points were designed to enhance security in Abuja, the NLC, however, noted that commuters in Abuja were facing very difficult times as a result checks.

“In any case, any potential trouble maker seeing the kilometres of traffic jam as a result of the check points will be alerted to take alternative routes.

It said that the NLC believed that the main ways of defeating violent groups and ensuring security included the use of intelligence and encouraging the populace to come forward with vital information.

Katsina

A 36-years-old man, Sabo Lawal, allegedly committed suicide by hanging in Katsina over the weekend.

An eyewitness told newsmen that Lawal was found hanging in his house at the abattoir area of the town.

According to the eyewitness, Lawal, said to be a drug addict and living along after divorcing his wife some months ago, hanged himself with an electric cable.

It was learned that a note, dated June 30, suspected to have been written by the deceased, was found in the room.

The note urged the entire people of Katsina town and his parents and relations, who reside in Gafai area, to forgive him for his misdeeds.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abubakar Ibrahim, confirmed the incident.

Kebbi

The Governments of Kebbi and Sokoto States are working on measures to prevent the recurrence of 2010 flooding incident.

This was contained in a statement signed by Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi and made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.

He said in the statement that the state Emergency Management Agency and the Sokoto State Rima River Basin Development Authority were working on the measures.

NAN recalls that the flood waters killed five people, displaced 137,023 people and destroyed seedlings worth N33.4 million in Kebbi State alone.

A total of N828 million was received as donation for the victims of the flooding in Argungu, Gwandu and Yauri emirates.

Lagos

Residents of Alpha and Lekki beaches in Lagos State have renewed calls on the Federal and the Lagos State Governments to remove shipwrecks on the coast.

The residents at a protest rally held on Sunday evening around the beaches, blamed the shipwrecks for the erosion of about 100 metres of the beach area within the last one year.

Placards by the protestors had inscriptions such as “Mr President Save Our Children’’; “Lekki Going, Going, Gone”; “Disasters loom in Lekki’’; “NIMASA, Do your Job’’ and “Fashola Fulfill Your Promise’’.

Chief Yusuf Atewolara, the traditional head (Baale) of Alpha Beach urged both governments to expedite action on the removal of the shipwrecks as they obstruct the receding of ocean surge.

“The beach started to experience erosion and degradation since these shipwrecks were dumped on the coast. Their presence is directing ocean surge towards us and our properties.

Ogun

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations(NIPR), Ogun chapter has solicited partnership with the state-owned Tai Solarin University of Education(TASUED), Ijebu-Ode.

This is contained in a statement by the institution’s Public Relation Officer, Mr. Gbenga Omilola, made available to newsmen in Ijebu-Ode, yesterday.

According to the statement, the Chairman of the NIPR, Mr Femi Dokunmu requested for the partnership when he paid a courtesy visit to the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Segun Awonusi.

According to Dokunmu, such partnership will bring about professionalism in public relations.

The NIPR boss said that there was the need for the university and the NIPR management to establish and sustain mutual relationship for academic excellence of both the staff and students.

Ondo

An Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court last week sentenced one Segun Adeyemi, 22, to three years in prison for conspiracy, rape, unlawful assault, stealing and breach of the peace.

Adeyemi and one other now at large allegedly committed the crimes on June 23, at about 12 midnight at Erinje Road in Okitipupa in Ondo State.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Emmanuel Omole, said the suspects also allegedly conspired with others to rape a lady.

He said that they also stole one wrist watch valued N3,500, one gold neck chain worth N18,000 and one Nokia handset valued at N10,000.

Other items stolen were one Samsung handset valued at N12,000 and N25,300 in cash totalling N68,800 all belonging to their victim.

Oyo

The Chairman of Bowen University Visitation Panel, Prof. Ayo Ogunkunle, says the university established about eight years ago by the Baptist Convention of Nigeria (BCN), has done excellently well.

Ogunkunle said this on Wednesday in Ibadan, while presenting the report of the panel to the new General Secretary of the Convention, Dr Supo Ayokunle, at the church headquarters.

He said that the institution was the first private-owned university in the country that had constituted a visitation panel in line with the National Universities Commission (NUC) directives.

The Chairman added that with adequate funding and proper management, it would rank among the best university within and outside Nigeria.

Receiving the report, Ayokunle said that the university was established to make a difference, adding that it combined both physical and spiritual education.

Plateau

The Mwaghavul Microfinance Bank in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau has presented six buses to the state chapter of the NURTW.

Mr Simon Arduhur, Managing Director of the bank, said at the bus presentation ceremony in Mangu yesterday that the buses were acquired under the FGN/Urban Development Bank Mass Transit Scheme.

Arduhur said that the buses would help to ease transportation challenges in the area and also help to reduce poverty.

“By giving out these buses, we hope to reduce transportation costs being experienced by commuters,” he said.

Arduhur said that another batch of six buses would be delivered to the union later in the month.

Sokoto

Alhaji Lawal Zayyana, the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, has urged the incoming ministers to assist President Goodluck Jonathan in sustaining his development agenda for the nation.

Zayyana, who spoke with newsmen in Sokoto yesterday, advised the ministers to give priority to the delivery of the badly–needed dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

“The president has good plans for Nigerians which would come to naught if the new ministers are not god-fearing, patriotic and dedicated,’’ he added .

According to Zayyana, the new ministers should accord Nigeria the paramount importance in their minds, not their pockets.

If they (ministers) contribute their quota patriotically and shun their egocentric desires, Nigeria will be a better place to live in generally.

Yobe

Yobe State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abubaka r Ali last Friday in Tarmuwa Local Government Area, inaugurated the free distribution of 12 million treated mosquito nets.

The deputy governor said on the occasion that government was partnering with development agencies to achieve total eradication of malaria by 2015.

He said that the distribution committee under his chairmanship would ensure fair and even distribution of the nets to the people.

“In Yobe, we have intensified efforts to reduce malaria morbidity by 50 per cent by the year 2013. Government has stepped up efforts on both preventive and curative measures on its fight against malaria,” he said.

Abubakar gave an assurance that the government would sustain the free treatment of pregnant women and children below the age of five years in the state.

Dr Isa Adamu, the WHO representative in the state, regretted that 66,000 malaria cases were reported in the state in 2010, adding that the figure represented 40 per cent of child killer disease in Yobe.

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.