Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

October 10, 2012

Bauchi

The Senior Special Adviser to Governor Isa Yuguda on
Pilgrims Affairs, Alhaji Sanusi Sarkin-aska has solicited the establishment
of a pilgrims’ camp near the Bauchi
International Airport, currently under construction.

He made the call in Bauchi while speaking at a farewell
ceremony organised for intending pilgrims from Bauchi State.

Sarkin-aska said that if the pilgrims’ camp was close to the
airport, it would make things easier for pilgrims and officials during hajj
operations and commended the state
governor for aiding the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board to discharge its duties
effectively.

In his message, the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu,
urged the intending pilgrims to be mindful of the fact they were travelling to
Saudi Arabia purposely to perform their religious obligations.

FCT

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters,
Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, has called on Nigerians to support government to nurture
democracy to maturity.

Gulak made the call on Sunday in Abuja in an interview with
our correspondent.

“All Nigerians must
put their hands on deck to see to it that this democracy is nurtured to
maturity and it is sad that many have failed to see national issues different
from partisan politics,” he said.

The special adviser urged Nigerians to believe and genuinely
contribute their quota to the success of the Nigerian project to actualise and
enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government on Saturday said it would
prosecute parents who reject the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for their children in
the on-going immunisation exercise in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Tafida, told
newsmen that defaulters would be sentenced to between six months and one year
imprisonment without an option of fine.

Tafida said this at the beginning of the October round of
Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) exercise in Dutse, pointing out that the state
House of Assembly had enacted a law which was assented to by the governor to
deal with “anybody who rejects the vaccine and also to promote participation in
the exercise.’’

He said that the state had also adopted effective campaign
measures to sensitise communities on the importance of presenting their wards
for vaccination and also mobilise participation in the exercise.

Jos

The Association of Architectural Educators in Nigeria
(AARCHES) has advised the federal and state governments to always engage
architects in urban design to avoid ecological problems arising from climate
change.

The advice is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of
the three-day biennial general meeting of the association, held at University
of Jos.

“Government should create consultancy services for
architects in urban design so that such professionals can solve ecological problems
arising from climate change.

“The architects are in the best position to advise
government and suggest ways out of incessantly changing climatic conditions,”
the communiqué stated.

Kano

The Kano State Government has donated 52 truckloads of
relief materials to flood victims in neighbouring Niger Republic.

The items include 5,000 bags of maize, 5,000 bags of millet,
5,000 bags of guinea corn, 5,000 blankets, 5,000 pieces of “Shadda’’ brocade
and 5,000 pieces of female textile wax.

Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso, who presented the items at
Bandirawo, Dawakin Tofa Local Government
Area of the state, said that the donation was aimed at alleviating the
suffering of the flood victims.

Kwankwaso, who spoke about the long-standing relations
existing between Kano State and Niger Republic, stressed the need for people to
be their brothers’ keepers so as to strengthen harmonious living and promised
to continue to work with the Nigerien government in efforts to promote
socio-economic ties between Kano State and Niger Republic.

Kogi

Four persons from Ajaokuta Local Government Area in
Kogi State are still missing after the
flood that ravaged the area recently, a council official said.

The acting Chairman of Ajaokuta Local Government Council, Mr
Aloysius Okino, said in Lokoja on Sunday that the missing persons included
three women and a man, pointing out that
when he visited the displaced persons in Gadumo camp in Ajaokuta the victims were from Onakumi Island, which
was completely submerged in the flood

He said all efforts to trace the four had been fruitless.

The Tide recalls that the Red Cross had earlier confirmed
the death of two male adults in Ajaokuta area during the disaster.

Apart from Onakumi village which was completely washed away
by the flood, Okino said that fishing which was the traditional occupation of
the people, had been disrupted while rice farms and livestock were washed away.

Lagos

A former President, Association of National Accountants of
Nigeria (ANAN), Dr. Samuel Nzekwe has urged the Federal Government to
effectively implement the budget, particularly the capital expenditure.

Speaking with the newsmen in Lagos, Nzekwe said that
effective implementation of the budget would create the enabling environment
for the productive sector of the economy to thrive as well as create job
opportunities.

According to him, it will increase the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and solve the problem of infrastructure deficit.

Nzekwe further asked government to evolve people-oriented
projects aimed at creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths, pointing
out that creating more job opportunities
would reduce the level of criminal activities in the country.

Nasarawa

The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa in Nasarawa State has
expelled 59 students for examination malpractices.

The Registrar of the polytechnic, Hajiya Fati Jimeta, told
our correspondent in an interview in
Nasarawa that the students were caught
during the 2011/2012 academic session.

She said the management of the polytechnic reached the
decision to expel the students at a meeting of the Academic Board.

Jimeta said 18 were full-time students, while 41 were
part-time students, adding that the students had been blacklisted by the
institution.

The registrar warned that any of the students seen within
the premises of the polytechnic would be arrested by the security.

Niger

The Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Niger State Alhaji Abdullahi Abdul has called on the state government to
sponsor a bill for the control and sale of cough syrups in the state.

Abdul made the call in Minna in a paper he presented at the
Niger Security Awareness Summit, tagged “Grass Roots Campaign on Internal
Security as a Sustainable Developmental Tool in Minna”.

He said that the drug had the same adverse effect with
cocaine, heroin and cannabis when abused.

“It will be recalled that these brands of cough syrup with
codeine content, have the same effect as cocaine, heroin, cannabis etc, when
abused and thus jeopardising security,’’ he said.

He further said that users of the cough syrups got easy
access to any patent medicine store where the drugs were sold indiscriminately
and without prescription.

“Most youths, especially in the higher institutions of
learning, are into this practice and the consequences are alarming.

Ogun

Nine persons, including an infant, died on Saturday morning
in a fatal accident on Abeokuta-Sagamu expressway in Obafemi Owode Local
Government area of Ogun State.

The Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State
Command, Mr Ayobami Omiyale told newsmen that the accident occurred a few
kilometres to the Police College in Kobape area of the road.

Omiyale said that two vehicles, a Volvo tipper, marked LAGOS
JJJ 489 XB and a Toyoa Hiace bus with registration number, XF 795 AAA, were
involved in the accident.

He said that although 20 people were involved in the
accident, only nine could be confirmed dead by the FRSC.

Omiyale added that “nine persons, which include an infant
less than a year old, were confirmed dead by my men.’’

Oyo

The Treasurer, Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Oyo
State Chapter, Mr. Bernard Adegoke has called on government to support a
first-generation commercial bank in assisting cocoa farmers with loans.

Adegoke told The Tide
in Ibadan on Sunday that the collaboration of the government with the
bank in giving out loans to cocoa farmers would boost production.

“ We need the government to support us, to assist us and
support the First Bank of Nigeria to help the farmers in giving us the loan.

“We all are seeing what is happening in the oil market now,
oil is going to finish either we like it or not, it’s going to remain farming
and if we are talking about farming we are talking about cocoa.

“If we are talking about cassava or maize or whatever, you
cannot be comparing that with cocoa.’’

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.