Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

November 30, 2011

Adamawa

The State Security Service (SSS) says it has compiled a list of suspected political thugs for close monitoring to ensure a hitch-free 2012 governorship polls in Adamawa.

The Adamawa SSS Director, Mr Alfred Ajayi made this known while addressing officials of political parties in a meeting held on Wednesday in Yola.

Ajayi said the meeting organised by the service, was crucial toward sustaining the peace being enjoyed in the state particularly, as the January governorship election was approaching.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all of you to let us approach the election with the fear of God, remembering that the state we want to develop should not be turned to a theatre of war.

Bauchi

No fewer than 103 households in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State resisted the administering of the Polio Plus Vaccines Immunisation during the just concluded exercise in the area.

The Director, Primary Health Care of the council, Garba Abbati, said this on Saturday in Misau in an interview with newsmen

Abbati explained that 90 households had their cases resolved through the intervention of traditional and religious rulers.

He further explained that the remaining households were yet to be resolved, adding that efforts were being intensified by both the council and traditional rulers to resolve the issue.

Borno

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) The Mercy Vincent Foundation, an NGO, has distributed food items and clothes to widows and orphans as part of its efforts to provide succour for vulnerable groups in Borno

The donation of 50 bags of rice and many clothes to 50 widows and 25 orphans was made at the premises of the foundation in Maiduguri on Saturday.

However, three other widows, Hajiya Fatima Musa, Mrs Mary Mark and Mrs Medugu Amos, benefited from scholarship awards for their children by the foundation at the occasion.

Dr Oufuani Vicent, the Managing Director and Founder of the charity home, said that most widows were being confronted with tough and difficult lives after the death of their husbands.

FCT

Senate President David Mark has warned that the neglect of the tourism industry will deny Nigeria considerable revenue.

Mark, represented by Sen. Hassan Barata, made the statement in Abuja on Sunday, while declaring open the “Durbar“ event of AbujaCarnival, 2011, at the Guards Brigade Polo Club.

“Any gathering of this nature quickly reminds us of the strategic importance of culture and tourism as a viable industry,’’ he said.

Mark said the essence of the Durbar was to refresh people’s knowledge of the history, military capabilities and prowess as displayed in different emirates centuries ago.

Gombe

The Snake Bite Treatment and Research Centre, in the state has raised alarm over the increase in cases of snake bite patients seeking medical attention at the centre.

Dr. Habu Ballah, the Officer in Charge, told newsmen in Kaltungo that the increase was due to farming activities during the harvest period and rearing of animals.

According to him, the centre unfortunately has run short of treatment drugs.

He explained that the centre recorded 372 causes and 388 cases in September and October, adding that in 2010, more than 3,000 patients were treated at the centre.

Jigawa

Jigawa State Government said on Wednesday said that property worth N88 million was lost to fire between January and December 2010.

The Director of the state Fire Service, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf, announced this in an interview with newmen in Dutse.

He added that property estimated at N179.3 million was, however, saved during the period.

He said the organisation received 178 distress calls and rescued 137 people from different accidents and calamities.

Kaduna

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Ballah Nasarawa said on Saturday in Kaduna that 165 persons were arrested since October for alleged involvement in various criminal activities.

The Commissioner told newsmen that crime rate in the state had declined.

The Police boss added that the Force had worked very hard to achieve crime-free Kaduna State.

“ Between October 17, 2011 and November 18, 2011, Operation Yaki Patrol teams carried out series of raids at some identified criminals’ hideouts and black spots within Kaduna city.

Kano

The Police Command in Kano State arrested 21 suspected armed robbers in November.

Ibrahim Idris, the state Commissioner of Police made this known to newsmen in Kano before parading the suspects at the Bompai police command headquarters.

The commissioner disclosed that his men had arrested five other suspects for illegally possessing fire arms including a Chadian named Faisal Mahmud on whom was found a Beretta pistol with one round of live ammunition.

Similarly, the commissioner said that four men, including an 80 year old man and a middle-aged policeman were arrested for defiling a minor who is four years old.

Lagos

Lack of funds and global acquisition of coastal lands have been identified as reasons for the inability of Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to establish an international border market.

Badagry West LCDA is located at the entry point of Benin Republic with two major border markets at Seme and Owode ends.

Mr. Joseph Bamgbose, chairman, Badagry West LCDA, said recently at its Kankon secretariat that the location of the area as border post would have made an international Market desirable.

“The twin factors of lack of funds and global acquisition of coastal lands by the Federal Government are hindering our plans to set up an international market in the LCDA,” he said.

Niger

The Niger Head of Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Matane, has decried the activities of illegal gold miners in Maiwayo village, Katcha Local Government Area of the state.

Matane told newsmen on Saturday in Minna that non-adherence to the mining laws of the state by the miners was of great concern to the government.

“They do not have any prospecting or mining licence from the relevant authorities such as the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development or the regulatory arm in Abuja.”

Matane further said that the miners did not have permit from any authority in the state before undertaking their illegal activities nor did they have any regard for environmental hazards their activities could cause.

Ondo

The Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State has appealed to nursing mothers to take advantage of the state government’s free health programme to reduce infant mortality rate in the area.

The council Chairman, Mr Banji Okunomo, made the appeal in Ilaje while flagging off the Maternal and New-born Child Health Week.

He emphasised the importance of health care delivery, saying it was the major focus of the state government.

Okunomo commended Gov. Olusegun Mimiko for his efforts in ensuring good health care delivery for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under the age of five.

Oyo

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, has discovered a new cassava flour that will save Nigeria N623 billion annually in foreign currency.

Dr Nteranya Sanginga, Director-General of IITA, said this in Ibadan when he visited Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.

Sanginga said that the suitable cassava flour which the institute discovered, would replace wheat in the production of bread.

The IITA boss expressed the readiness of the Institute to partner with the state in the area of food production and security.

Plateau

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced distribution of relief materials to the internally displaced persons from the Barkin-Ladi crisis in Plateau State.

Most of the 1,000 displaced persons were camped at the Barkin-Ladi Divisional Police Headquarters and also within the town.

No fewer than 10 people were reportedly killed in the violence which broke out in the locality on Sunday, 50 kilometres from Jos.

NEMA Zonal Coordinator, North Central, Mr. Abdulsalami Muhammed, who distributed the items to the victims, said the items were donated by donor agencies and stakeholders, which included the Plateau State Government and the Red Cross 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.