Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

October 18, 2013

Adamawa

Mr Umar Atiku, Adamawa State Commissioner for
Works said yesterday that the state government had approved a total of N2.6 billion for the reconstruction of Jimeta to Yola highway.
Atiku told newsmen in Yola, that the project would cover two major roads in the state capital.
He said among the roads to be reconstructed included Police round-about to Karewa junction and Army Barracks junction to Yola town.
He said contract in respect of the project, was awarded to PW Nigeria Construction Limited, and would start as soon as the rainy season was over.
He added that the project would be completed in eight months.

Ekiti

Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has inaugurated
the 20-km Ikole-Ijesaisu-Ilumoba road, rehabilitated by his administration.
Fayemi also flagged off the construction of the eight-km Ikole township road and 20-km Ikole-Ara-Isinbode road, linking Ekiti and Ikare in Onda State.
The governor said that his administration was delivering on its electioneering promises in all sectors of the economy, especially in the provision of infrastructure.
Fayemi said that his administration was interested in rehabilitation of roads because this would engender development and improve the socio-economic lives of the people.

Gombe

The police in Gombe State said it recovered two Ak47 riffles
and 360 live ammunition in an uncompleted building during the Eid-el Kabir celebrations in Gombe metropolis.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Fwaje Atajiri, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Gombe yesterday.
Atajiri said the police also recovered five empty magazines and a motorcycle in the building.
He said the period was hitch-free, but the command got intelligence report about a criminal hide-out in Kondulum Area of Gombe metropolis on Wednesday and raided the area.
The police spokesman said the suspects ran away on sighting the police operatives and left the weapons and ammunition.
He said the police was investigating the incident as well as the owner of the building.

FCT
A Muslim Scholar, Alhaji Mufutaudeen Ajijola-Anabi, has
urged Muslim parents to give proper training to their children.
Ajijola-Anabi, who is also the Chief Imam of the Abuja branch of “Dairat Jafariyat Fitorikat Tijaniyat’’ Islamic Organisation, gave the advice at the Eid-el-kabir praying ground in Abuja.
According to him, Allah has commanded Muslims to always show affection and kindness to their children, stressing that He forbids ill-treatment, abuse and neglect of duties.
The cleric quoted Allah as saying in the Qur’an: “Your Lord has decreed that you shall worship none except Him and show kindness to one another.’’

Kaduna

The transportation of prospective Christian pilgrims from
Kaduna State will commence on October 19, an official said.
Rev. Joseph Yari, the Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Christian Pilgrims Board, told newsmen in Kaduna that most arrangements had been concluded for the transportation.
He said 800 prospective Christian pilgrims were expected to embark on the 2013 pilgrimage to Israel.
Yari said the board would screen the intending pilgrims before they leave, adding that “the pilgrims will hold a national prayer in the Holy Land on October 24.
“The prayer is to intercede for peace, unity and development in Nigeria.’’

Kogi

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has urged Nigerians to
live in peace and harmony irrespective of their religious affiliation.
The governor made the appeal in Lokoja in his congratulatory message to Muslims as they celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.
He urged Muslims and Christians not to see themselves as enemies but as brothers and sisters created equally and with the same purpose by only one God.
Wada said the insecurity in some parts of the country could have been avoided if there was peace and love among adherents of the different faiths.

Kwara

The Olugbense ruling house of Offa has petitioned the
Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Aloma Muktar, praying her to reassign the stay-of-execution of judgment suit filed by the deposed Olofa of Offa, Mufutau Gbadamosi.
The petition, which was signed by Mr Saka Keji on behalf of the ruling house, was dated October 8 and made available to newsmen recently.
Keji stated in the petition that the Olugbense family had no confidence in the new panel of the Court of Appeal to which the suit had been assigned.
“We have no confidence that the new panel of justices can do justice to us in the case just as we have our fears and concerns on the motion for stay,” he added.

Lagos

The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Adeyemi
Ikuforiji, says only God would determine his governorship ambition.
“As a believer, I know that when the time comes, the Almighty God will show the light and make it clear that this is your next direction and your next seat.
”No matter the noise, the plotting of the coup and counter coup, what God has destined to be, no man can stop,” Ikuforiji told newsmen in Epe, during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
He said that he became the speaker by the will of God, and that only God would determine his next political step in 2015.

Nasarawa

Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has
inaugurated five newly acquired fire-fighting trucks to boost the fire-fighting capacity of the state’s fire service.
Al-Makura said that the fire-fighting trucks would boost the operations of the state’s fire service.
He said that the trucks would be deployed to strategic areas that were vulnerable to fire outbreaks, enjoining the firemen to make judicious use of the facilities.
Besides, Al-Makura said that the towing vehicles would be stationed at accident-prone areas, especially the Akwanga-Lafia road.

Ogun

The police yesterday arraigned a driver, Adewale Adesanya,
40, before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on a two-count charge of manslaughter and reckless driving.
The police prosecutor, Cpl. Rosemary Brown, told the court that the accused committed the offence on September 27 at 2.30 p.m. near Excel Primary School on Ilogbo-Oju-Ore road, Sango Ota.
The prosecutor said the accused drove his Mitsubishi gallant car with Lagos registration number SMK 916 BL recklessly and killed a 47-year-old Sunday Balogun.
Brown said the other victim, Mr Ibrahim Otefila, was still receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.
She said the offences contravened sections 17 and 18 of the Road Traffic Act 29 Vol. 21 of the revised laws of Ogun State, 2006.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has stressed
the need for peace, security and cooperation among Nigerians to move the nation forward.
The governor said this in his Eid-el-Kabir message, signed by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the Director of Communication in the Governor’s Office.
He urged Muslims to live in peace, while exhibiting tolerance towards adherents of other faiths.
Aregbesola, however, called on the adherents of all religions to protect the sanctity of human life, saying in all the Scriptures, God never commanded or appointed anyone as judge over other human beings.

Oyo

No fewer than 157 graduates of Caleb University, Imota,
Lagos State, would participate at the third convocation ceremony billed for Saturday.
This was contained in a statement issued by the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan.
The vice- chancellor said the convocation ceremony would mark another milestone in the history of the university which took off in 2008.
“As at today, the university has continued to enjoy the National Universities Commission’s full accreditation status, thereby confirming our core objective of ensuring the production of quality graduates who would contribute positively to national growth,’’ he said.
Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto State, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged
striking workers to call off their strikes and go back to the negotiating table.
Abubakar made the call as part of his Eid el-Kabir message to the Muslim faithful.
“We wish to use this opportunity to call on all those on strike, especially university academic and non-academic staff to call off their strikes so as to reduce the sufferings of the people.
“And they should go back to the negotiating table in order to bring an end to the crisis.
“This is a problem in the development of the country. We urged the government to listen to the complaints of the workers with the intention of solving them”, he said.

Aig Zone 12, Mr Edgar Nanakumo (left), with Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State during his courtesy visit in Bauchi, yesterday Photo: NAN

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

1 week 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

1 week 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

1 week 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.