Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

August 1, 2012

Adamawa

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has reiterated his commitment to leaving a legacy by transforming the party.

Speaking to newsmen in Yola, Tukur said his programme of action included reconciliation, reformation and rehabilitation of the party based on equity and justice.

“I am one of those who founded the party and because of that, I felt I should come when the opportunity permits to show interest in leading the party, which I did. I am not in the job for the name or riches. For me, it is pay back, pure and simple.”

Tukur also replied people who said he was too old for the position, noting that what mattered was not years but having the ideas and ability to lead and deliver.

Bauchi

Barely 48 hours after three police officers were ambushed and killed by unknown gunmen along Bauchi-Gombe road, another police officer has been assassinated at his residence in Bauchi.

The deceased, Abdullahi Shehu, former ADC to the former Deputy Governor of the state, Abdulmalik Ibrahim, met his untimely death on Friday night when unknown gunmen invaded his Zango residence in Bauchi metropolis.

A family source said that the gunmen arrived at the residence of the deceased on a motorcycle at about 8.45 p.m. when he was having the Ramadan evening meal with some friends and relations.

The source said that one of the gunmen asked the gathering who among them was called Abdullahi, adding that the deceased then stood up to identify himself and was shot by one of the assailants. The family source added that the deceased had been buried in accordance with Islamic rite.

Benue

Chief Terkula Suswam, Managing Director, Ashitech Resource Ltd, has called on the Federal Government to map out grazing areas and animal tracks in all the states of the federation.

Suswam who made the call in Makurdi, said that if grazing areas and animal tracks were mapped out, it would go a long way in curtailing the incessant crises between herdsmen and farmers.

He urged the state government to set up committees to urgently wade into the lingering crisis between Fulaniherdsmen and Tiv farmers on one hand and the herdsmen and the Idoma farmers on the other hand.

He appealed to both the Nasarawa and Benue State Governments to beef up security in the areas that were prone to attack and implored the public to support any move by the states or Federal Government to restore peace in crises-ridden areas.

Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa on Saturday stressed the need for Muslims to uphold family values as a panacea for peaceful coexistence.

Yokowa said this in Kaduna at the seventh Ramadan lecture organised by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). The governor, represented by his Deputy Dr Ramalan Yero, his deputy, observed that family values had been relegated to the background, partly resulting in youth restiveness.

Yakowa said parents should shape the society through proper moulding of their children. He urged the Muslim community to preach for the rekindling of family values, stressing that such would go a long way to curb youth restiveness in the society.

Malam Umar Paiko, the guest speaker, spoke on the need for the Muslim Umah to embrace charity as an important virtue, urged Muslims to sustain the lessons learnt during the fasting period. He called for increased prayers for the nation.

Kano

An environmental expert, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, has stressed the need for the residents of Kano State to ensure cleanliness of the state to guarantee good health.

Mohammed, who gave the advice in Kano in an interview said that the frequency of diseases in the state was due to unhygienic environment, adding that the best way of preventing disease was through the maintenance of good hygiene.

Mohammed, however, commended the state governor for improving the sanitary condition of the state and sustaining the monthly sanitation.

“I am appealing to government agencies, stakeholders and non-governmental organisations to sensitise the public on the dangers and importance of clean environment,’’ he said.

Katsina

The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over “some irregularities’’ during the conduct of the bye-election into the state assembly in Dutsi Local Government, Katsina State.

The INEC National Commissioner, Amb. Ahmad Wali, expressed the concern in Dutsi while monitoring the exercise in the area.

“I went round and met many electorates in an orderly manner at their polling units; unfortunately, there are many cases of snatching of ballot papers and boxes in some polling units; it is unfortunate. “Polling units, where ballot papers or boxes were snatched will be cancelled,’’ he said.

He said that though it might be painful to realise that results in some polling units were cancelled, voters must learn to protect their votes in future elections in the area.

Kogi

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has assured rural dwellers in the state of 24-hour qualitative and efficient health care delivery system as part of his transformation programme for the health sector.

Wada gave the assurance at Okpo, Olamaboro Local Government at a one-day free medical treatment organised by the state branch of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) for rural communities in the three senatorial districts of the state.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Yomi Awoniyi, said his vision for rural dwellers was one that would enable them to have 24-hour access to medical services in all cottage and general hospitals across the state.

He said that the state would employ adequate medical personnel and provide quality facilities in the hospitals as he called for inputs from the NMA on ways to improve health care delivery in the rural areas.

Kwara

Forty nine people were last Saturday prosecuted in Ilorin for violating the Kwara State environmental law. The culprits included housewives and students arrested at different parts of the state capital during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

Some of those arrested were found roaming the streets, while some were playing football on the streets, during the exercise.

The presiding Judges of the two sanitation mobile courts, Mr. Kayode Oni and Alhaji Abdulhamad Yussuf, decried the high number of people prosecuted during the exercise.

They attributed the situation to lukewarm attitude to the scheme by some residents, coupled with lack of awareness about the monthly exercise.

The state Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Chief Sanumal Bamisaiye, urged the people of the state to imbibe the culture of hygiene in order to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

Lagos

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of

God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has mandated all provinces of the Church to impact their host communities not only spiritually but also with visible development projects.

Pastor Joseph Obayemi, Special Adviser to the General Overseer, said this last Sunday in Lagos at the commissioning of various projects to mark the 60th Annual Convention of the Church.

Obayemi explained that the projects, ranging from construction of boreholes and a maternity, renovation of existing schools and building new ones in the community, were part of the corporate social responsibilities of the RCCG.

Niger

A member representing Bida/South in Niger State House of Assembly, Malam Bala Faruq, has donated assorted grains worth over N10 million to his constituency.

The lawmaker said shortly after distributing the food items in Bida, that the gesture was aimed at cushioning the effect of fasting on his people.

He said that 1,200 bags of rice, 200 bags of millet, 100 bags of beans, 200 bags of sugar as well as 150 cartons of milk were distributed to the people.

“Things are really bad now, poverty is biting harder now, and I want to ensure that my people do the fasting with ease,’’ he said.

Faruq appealed to the beneficiaries to use the grains and provisions judiciously, and admonished them to worship Allah and pray fervently during the holy month of Ramadan for Nigeria to be peaceful and united.

Ogun

The Ogun State Government has appointed Prof. Saburi Adesanya as the acting Vice Chancellor of the state-owned university, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye Adesanya was the former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Admin) Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, announced the appointment in Abeokuta in a press statement.

In the statement, Olaniyonu also announced the appointment of Mrs Omolara Osunsanya as the acting Registrar of the university. According to the statement, both appointments are with immediate effect.

Prof. Wale Olaitan and Mr Femi Oyewole, the former vice chancellor and registrar of the university were on Friday ordered to proceed on compulsory leave by the governing council of the institution.

Oyo

A medical consultant at Giwa Memorial Hospital, Ibadan Dr Gbenga Durojaiye,has urged Muslim smokers to use the opportunity of the Ramadan to quit the habit.

He warned those who smoked while breaking their fast (Iftar) that the first smoke inhaled immediately after ending the fast could be dangerous considering the state of the body at the time.

Speaking in Ibadan, Dr Durojaiye said that smoking could be dangerous for a fasting person whose body was trying to recoup after abstaining from water and food for so long.

“Smoking is the worst thing a person can do to his body, especially at iftar in Ramadan. “Those who do so and escape the risks involved must consider themselves lucky if they do not contract serious cardiovascular problem during this period,’’ he said.

Taraba

The Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State, has approved the remittance of three per cent of the total monthly subvention of councils in the state to the Taraba University.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Yahaya said this while speaking with newsmen in Jalingo.

He said that, the institution would use the funds in staff recruitment and developing infra-structure. “Initially, we demanded for five per cent remittance but the bureau insisted that our demand was practically impossible.

“We will make judicious use of the three percent in developing our young institution.”

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

4 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

4 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

4 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.