Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

April 18, 2012

FCT

Prof. Justus Sokefun of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has called on law students at the University to study hard so as not to become “charge and bail lawyers”.

Sokefun made the appeal at the inauguration of the Moot Court/Clinical Legal Education of the University in Abuja.

Sokefun who is the Dean, School of Law and Chairman of the occasion, represented the Vice Chancellor of the University.

“The issue here is not about the university you graduate from but what you make of your effort. Be successful lawyers and go beyond “charge and bail’’.

“Make reference to text books as recommended by the course material.”

Sokefun said it was purely professional and organised by the universities to develop law students in advocacy skills and prepare them for the future.

According to him, the Moot Court builds a lawyer’s confidence wherever he finds himself.

The President of the law students Abuja Centre, Emeka Kalu, also told newsmen that only a serious lawyer would be successful in the profession due to its challenges.

He advised his colleagues to be more serious in their studies, adding “this is the only way we can show the world that we are capable”.

Kaduna

Members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly last Saturday sympathised with the victims of the bomb explosion in Kaduna during the Easter celebrations.

The lawmakers visited the victims at various hospitals and donated money to settle their medical expenses.

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Dr Dogara Mato, led the delegation.

During the visit, various cash donations were given to the victims.

The places visited were Barau Dikko Specialists Hospital, 44 Nigerian Army Referral Hospital and St. Gerard Hospital, Kaduna.

At the 44 Army hospital, the Director, Brig-Gen. Napolion Amarie, expressed gratitude to the members for the donations to the victims.

At Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, the members were conducted round by the Matron in-Charge, Mrs Hassana Garba, while at St. Gerard Hospital, the Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday John conducted them round the institution.

Kano

The Almajiri Foundation of Nigeria has applauded the Federal Government for initiating the Almajiri Model School scheme.

The national chairman of the association, Yusuf Hassan, described the programme as “a noble idea which the foundation and all Northerners had been yearning for. ’’

According to him, the scheme was in line with the cardinal principles and objectives of the Almajiri Foundation of Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation.

Hassan, who decried the untold hardship being experienced by young Almajiri, said that they were not adequately taken care of in the society.

He said: “they roam about dangerously between fast moving vehicles in tattered clothes begging for food and money. “

He expressed optimism that the programme if sustained would completely rehabilitate the Almajiri by educating them in both religious and secular education, so that they could contribute to national development.

The chairman urged all state governments to ensure the construction of such Almajiri schools in each local government area of their respective states.

Hassan also implored the private sector and wealthy individuals to contribute their quota to the success of the scheme.

President Goodluck Jonathan had on April 10 inaugurated one of the schools at Gagi in Sokoto State.

Lagos

Residents of Akanni Crescent, Jakande Estate, Okokomaiko, Lagos, are seeking the assistance of the state government to solve the problem posed by a 20-year old swamp in the area.

The residents lamented the increasing flow of the swamp into their homes during the rainy season.

Mr Wale Odukoya, a resident of the area, said the situation was becoming worse, especially as the rainy season had set in.

Odukoya said that the swamp had existed in the area for about 20 years without efforts to checkmate its menace.

Mr Gbenga Olutobi, another resident, said that several appeals had been made to government to assist the inhabitants of the area but to no avail.

Olutobi said that “whenever it rains, the volume of the swamp increases and flows into our homes, damaging our property.”

Mrs Edith Omogiate, another resident, said the break of each rainy season raised anxieties among the people due to the problem encountered during the period.

Niger

President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to make education accessible to all youths as part of the government’s policy on human capital development.

Jonathan made the pledge at the convocation of the Federal University of Technology Minna, last Saturday.

The President, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, said human development was part of the reasons for establishing federal universities in the federation.

He reiterated government’s commitment to provide quality education to the people.

“Let me point out that our administration is committed to improving education to ensure appropriate human capital development in Nigeria.“

Jonathan urged the universities to establish entrepreneurship training courses for their students, to equip them with the skills and make them become job creators rather than seekers after graduation.

He urged youths to maintain their resilience and determination in spite of daunting challenges.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Audu, said the management had instituted a scholarship scheme for students who excelled, to sustain the record in subsequent examinations.

Ogun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State last Saturday installed Kehinde Olugbenle as the new monarch (Olu of Ilaro) for Ilaro in Yewa South Local Government area of the state.

Ilaro, a major town in the West Senatorial District, had been without a monarch since Feb. 20, 2008.

The administration of Amosun had upon assumption of office, initiated the process of selecting a successor to late monarch, Samuel Adekanbi.

Amsoun said that the installation was a great accomplishment for both his administration and the people of the district.

“It is my pleasure to present to Kehinde Olugbenle, the instrument of appointment and staff of office as the new Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewa land.

“This installation is a testimony to the divine word of God that whatever He proposes shall surely be accomplished.

“For this reason, the government and the entire people of Ogun rejoice with the good people of Ilaro and the entire Yewa land, even as we express gratitude to God who made this event a reality.“

Osun

The Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation in Osun, Prof. Olubukola Oyawoye, has warned the residents to keep every part of the state clean to avoid flooding as the rainy season begins.

Oyawoye gave the warning in response to concerns expressed by some residents over the predictions by weather forecasters that with the onset of stormy rainy season, some parts of the state might experience flooding.

A statement issued in Osogbo on Saturday by Mr Babatunde Kolawole, the ministry’s Coordinating Director, quoted the commissioner as urging the people “to be environment friendly.’’

Oyawoye also warned the residents not to dump refuse into waterways as this could block the drains and cause flooding.

She said the 2012 weather forecast by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency revealed that the downpour would be experienced between April and November.

Plateau

Military regimes’ intolerance of freedom of speech killed the Plateau government-owned Nigeria Standard newspapers, the media outfit’s General Manager, Mr Jonathan Ishaku, has said.

“Military regimes do not tolerate freedom of speech; unfortunately, that is the fulcrum on which the media operates.

“The regimes operate by suppressing public or dissenting opinions and would insist that public-owned media houses concur.

Ishaku, a two-time editor, managing director, and now general manager of the paper, said the paper used to publish daily and printed more than 40,000 copies on a daily average.

The paper was at its peak between the 1970s and the 1980s.

“I have been around and have seen the best and worst times of the Nigeria Standard. In those days, we hardly had unsold copies and that was a great feat considering the literacy level then.

“But currently, we struggle to publish twice or thrice a week and print less than 5,000 copies; we try to make our presence felt only in Plateau and Abuja.’’

The veteran journalist said the Nigeria Standard was established in 1972 to protect the views of the minority since they did not have any voice at the time.

“The papers on the stable discharged that mandate for some time and were indeed very famous; its editorials were greatly respected and read on the 7 o’clock Network News. The paper was also read in Lagos in the morning of publication date.

“Unfortunately, autocratic regimes came and had great links with some feudal establishments that felt their interests were being threatened with the focus on the rights of the minorities.

Sokoto

The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, plans to establish its Faculty of Engineering in 2014, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, has said.

The construction of the faculty’s infrastructure had so far gulped more than N200 million between 2007 and the present date.

“This includes funding from the Federal Government for the project as well as internally generated revenue.’’

He said that the faculty would start with programmes in three fields of civil, electrical and chemical engineering.

“The structures at the faculty have reached about 70 per cent completion. Engineering is capital intensive there is also the challenge of getting the required manpower as well as the requisite equipment,’’ Shehu said.

He said that the management of the university would soon meet with the contractor handling the project to sort out all the grey areas to ensure timely completion.

“We have to do everything humanly possible to consolidate our gains and always consider our limited resources and work within them the challenge in respect of engineering is staff recruitment as they are hard to come by. Even older universities do not have enough manpower in this regard,’’ the vice chancellor said.

He said that the institution would send requests to its catchment states to “get their best graduates in engineering.

“We will recruit them and send them for higher training at all levels, both within and outside Nigeria”, he said.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

4 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

4 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

4 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.