Nation

THE STATES

Published

12 years ago

March 26, 2014

Borno

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the United
.States is to assist Borno and other states in the North East Zone in the areas of primary healthcare and agriculture.
The President, Global Development, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr Chris Elias, made this known during a meeting with officials of the Borno and Bauchi State Governments in the U.S.
The Special Adviser to the Borno Governor on Media and Communication , Malam Isa Gusau, made this known in a statement issued in Maiduguri on Sunday.
“Gov. Kashim Shettima and his Bauchi counterpart, Governor Isa Yuguda, were at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation headquarters in Washington D.C where they held meetings with the officials for hours.

FCT
WaterAid Nigeria has called on the Federal Govern
ment to address water and sanitation issues in the country to curb deaths among children.
The organisation’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Michael Ojo, described the high mortality rate of children under five from water related cases as “scandalous’’.
Ojo made the call in an interview with newsmen in commemoration of the World Water Day, in Abuja.
He said there was need to reverse current statistics of infant deaths arising from diarrhoea and water borne diseases in the country.

Jigawa

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa has urged
political parties to shun sentiments in the choice of their flag bearers during elections.
Lamido said this when he received the executive officers of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) in Dutse.
He said aspirants needed not to be popular among the leaders of political parties, if they had the required will to work for the people.
The governor said that over the years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had carried out its objective of delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
“It is either PDP or PDP, there is no alternative to our party, the only party that is owned by Nigerians”, he said.
Lamido said the PDP had always demonstrated that it was a party not owned or controlled by anyone or some individuals.

Kano

The Serendipity Health Care Foundation, an NGO based
in Kano, has called on the Kano State Government to focus more on the provision of safe drinking water to rural communities.
Its Coordinator, Mrs Samira Faruk, made the call at a rally the NGO organised to commemorate the World Water Day in Kano.
She said the call was necessary in view of the importance of water and sanitation to human lives.
‘’We appreciate the laudable projects Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso is doing, but we want him to do more especially in the areas of water and sanitation in the rural areas.’’
She said the organisation was ready to partner with the state government in the area of water and sanitation with a view to achieving the desired objectives.

Kaduna

The Integrity Network, a group under the All
Progressives Congress (APC), has urged youths in the country to shun “politics of deceit, money, religious bigotry and ethnic manipulation”.
Leader of the network Malam Umar Yahya, made the call at an interactive session with youths in Kaduna as part of the APC’s grassroots mobilisation.
The session has as its theme: Integrity and Corruption: Wither Nigerian?
Yahya said the aim was to ensure that the youths played vital role in the evolution of a new leadership in the country through democratic principles.

Lagos

Some lawyers in Lagos have criticised the wearing of
branded jackets belonging to religious organisations by the accused while standing trial in court.
Their reactions came against the backdrop of an accused, Dairus Nweze, 37, who appeared before a magistrate in a sleeveless branded jacket of a church — The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Church — with Scriptural inscriptions on it.
Our correspondent reports that the accused is facing a charge of assault at an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court.
He had earlier entered a plea of “not guilty’’.
Court officials had asked the accused to remove the jacket, but he reluctantly responded that he could remove it and chose to walk out of the courtroom.

Niger

The Niger Government has sent packing 200 Fulani
herdsmen from Gunu village in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state to Rijana, their ancestral village in Kaduna State.
The Director-General of the state’s department in charge of Nomadic Affairs, Alhaji Sadiq Abubakar, addressed the herdsmen shortly before their departure.
He said the decision to send them home was based on “security issues’’.
Abubakar said the herdsmen erred by not informing their association in the state about their intention to migrate in such a large number with their herds.

Ogun

As the world observed World Water Day recently, the Ogun
Government has renewed its commitment to make potable water available to the citizens.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Olu Odeyemi, said this in Abeokuta in an interview with newsmen.
Odeyemi said that the state government’s efforts in providing good drinking water for the people were being hampered by inadequate power supply.
He disclosed that the government was negotiating with some power companies from Índia and China to have alternative way of generating power rather than depending on the government.
Osun
A former military administrator of Ebonyi, Sen.Simeon
Oduoye, 69, is dead.
Oduoye, who represented Osun Central Senatorial Zone in the Senate on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party from 2003 to 2007, died in Osogbo.
Mr Bola Ajao, PDP Publicity Secretary in Osun, confirmed Oduoye’s death to newsmen in an interview last Saturday in Osogbo.
He described Oduoye’s death as “a blow to the party” adding that the deceased was a gentleman to the core, who served the country diligently.
Plateau

The Plateau Government says it will spend two billion
naira to restock the 30-years-old Jos Wild Life Park.
The commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Abraham Yiljap, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Jos recently.
Yiljap said the step would address the park’s declining fortunes and patronage following years of neglect of the facility famed to be the largest man-made zoo in Nigeria.
“We want to upgrade the facility to realise its full potential”.
“The multiplier effects are massive but we specifically target a situation where every family will seek to visit the Jos Wild Life Park and have a good time,’’ he said.

Sokoto

A 4-day Maiden Conference on Basic and Applied Sci
ences has ended in Sokoto with participants advocating inter-disciplinary approaches to researches.
This is contained in a communique signed by the Dean, Faculty of Science, Prof. Aminu Ibrahim, and made available to newsmen in Sokoto recently.
The conference which was organised by the Faculty of Science, Sokoto State University, Sokoto, between March 17 and March 20, had as its theme, “Impact of Basic and Applied Sciences on Resource Acquisition and Management”.
The communique advised that, “the institutions of higher learning and research institutes should give more emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to researches.’’
It also called for more “investigations in order to obtain a qualitative and enduring solution to resource scarcity”.

Taraba

The Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Garba Umar, says
he believes in the ability of the new leadership of the PDP to bring back those who defected from party.
Umar said this during a media parley with newsmen in Jalingo recently.
‘’Ahmed Muazu is active and he wants his people to return to PDP. I believe he will achieve this and win back most if not all defectors before the next general elections,’’ Umar said.
He said Taraba remained peaceful in the region because the PDP brought all the stakeholders to dialogue and enlightened the people on the need for development through peaceful co-existence
‘’We achieved peace in Taraba today through dialogue. We brought together major stakeholders: emirs, chiefs, clergymen to enlighten and talk to the people that destruction of lives and property was affecting our development and advancement.

L-R: Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State (2nd-left) and Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (right), signing an MoU for National Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre in Bauchi, last Monday. Photo: NAN.

Nation

REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

Published

3 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

3 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

3 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.