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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Commandant of the Adamawa State Internally Displaced
Persons Camp, Mr Abdulmumini Jauro, yesterday said about 1,300 people have been registered at the camp.
Jauro said this in an interview with newsmen at the Bajabure refugee camp in Girei Local Government Area.
The commandant, who is a member of Nigerian Red Cross society, said nine pregnant women were among the displaced persons.
“We have so far registered over 1,300  people who escaped from attacks in Madagali, Michika and Mubi North and South Local Government Areas of the state,” Jauro said.
He said among the refugees are 162 students of the federal polytechnic and Adamawa State University, Mubi, who are indigenes of Taraba State.

Benue

A traditional ruler in Benue State, Chief Hillary Ikyima,
has taken over the land which Mbakyaa and Dzev communities of Shangev-ya, have been fighting over.
He also called on the state government to urgently send in surveyors to cordon the disputed area in order to avoid further clashes.
Ikyima made the call yesterday when he led clan heads and other stakeholders of the area to initiate a peace meeting between the people at Imande village.
The traditional ruler, thereafter, directed all parties involved in the crisis which was said to be as a result of the gains of the forest reserve on the land, to immediately vacate the area or be handed over to law enforcement agents.
Secretary of Kwande Local Government Council, Rev. Akpaegh expressed satisfaction with the action of the traditional ruler, while pledging the commitment of the council to work closely with the traditional institution to ensure lasting peace.
FCT

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has dispelled
rumours about his defecting from the Labour Party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor made this known at the end of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja yesterday where the national chairman of LP, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu also stated that Mimiko’s attendance at the NEC meeting puts paid to reports that he has dumped the LP. He further said he would step down as the party’s chairman and not seek re-election, having served as chairman since 2004.
At the end of the NEC meeting, Governor Mimiko in a terse response to reporters’ question about his defection said: “It is all rumours and I do not react to rumours.”

Gombe

The Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar,
has called on people of the state to pray against a re-occurrence of the recent flood disaster.
It was gathered that the flood which followed a heavy rainfall, claimed six lives and destroyed over 100 houses in Gombe metropolis.
He also cautioned them to desist from any action that could block waterways.
The emir spoke yesterday when he went round the town to commiserate with the bereaved families and inspect the damage caused by the flood.
Speaking through the Yeriman Gombe, he advised the people to always keep their environments clean.

Jigawa

Jigawa State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps(NSCDC) yesterday said it has recovered 196 out of the 202 permanent voters cards stolen in Malam-Madori Local Government Area.
This was disclosed to newsmen by the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr.Muhammad Gidado.
He said after the command issued a statement on the missing cards in Tanukutaru ward, Gandun Sarki polling unit of Malam-Madori Local Government Area, three suspects were arrested.
He added that after investigation, 196 cards were recovered by the detectives. He maintained that the remaining six will soon be recovered.
Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has
called for the suppression of religious extremism of all kinds, saying most reasons given for it ends at achieving personal or group interests, thereby creating division, encouraging violence and retarding development.
Receiving the management team of Darul Iftar, an Egyptian institute led by the country’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Ashraf Salama, in Kaduna, Yero advised Nigerians to understand the true teachings of their religions to enable them promote unity and peaceful co-existence.

Kano

The Kano State chapter of the committee of leaders of
the legacy parties, ACN, ANPP, CPC, which merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), has denied a resolution to support the aspiration of Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso for the presidency next year.
A report had last week claimed that the state’s elders committee of the APC was backing the governor to contest for the presidency.
But the leaders of the defunct parties in a statement said they were not aware of any elders’ committee of the APC in the state.
The terse statement signed by Alhaji Musa Umar (ACN), Garba Bala of the defunct CPC and Mallam Muktar Kwaru from the defunct ANPP, said the endorsement was “far from the truth”.
It said the two signatories of the purported communiqué were not members of the legacy parties, but members of the Kwankwasiyya group and therefore could not speak for the legacy parties.

Katsina

Five local government councils in Katsina State have
been dragged before the North-west zonal office of the Tax Appeal Tribunal sitting in Kaduna by the Federal Inland Revenue Service over tax evasion.
The councils were accused of not paying  Withholding and Value Added Tax for three years.  Counsels representing the FIRS, Barrister Nasambo Mohammed and Barrister Raji Mukhtar, told the tribunal that the five local government councils namely: Mani, Batsari, Dutsi, Daura and Baure, collected tax and refused to remit same to the appropriate authority.
Counsel representing the five local government areas, Barr. A. A. Ibrahim, asked the tribunal for more time to allow the parties negotiate out-of-court settlement.
Chairman of the tribunal, Bashir Abdullahi Albasu, then adjourned the matter to October 15, 2014.
In the same vein, Kaduna Polytechnic and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria have opted for out-of-court settlement in their tax evasion cases brought against them by the Kaduna State government.
Kogi

Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, FMC,
Lokoja, Kogi State, Dr. Gbadebo Eleshin, yesterday, said the centre would appeal the suspension of four  of its doctors by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Last week, the Medical and Dental Council suspended Dr. Temitope Gabriel Onile for three months, while     Drs Nzurumike Charles Nanna, Danmusa Adamu Ochala and Omotayo Oluwa Damilola were each suspended for six months.
At a briefing, Eleshin said the suspension was carried out “in error by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. The suspension was issued to the four doctors as a result of a pregnant woman whose time of delivery went beyond the Expected Day of Delivery, EDD, which was admitted for observation. When her condition eventually defied normal delivery and induction, and it was discovered that the woman’s uterus had ruptured, the doctors quickly prepared her for caesarean session, to save the mother and the baby, but both gave up the ghost on the way to the theatre as a result of complications.”

Lagos

The Lagos State government says it has not decided on
the recent directive by the federal government that schools across the country should resume on September 22.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr  Jide Idris,  said this while addressing newsmen on the Ebola virus.
He said  the issue was before  the  State Executive Council and that government would soon make a pronouncement on whether schools in the state would resume on the date or not.
The federal government recently reversed resumption date of schools nationwide to September 22 from the earlier date of October 13.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, while announcing the reversal in Abuja, said the government shifted the date backwards, because the virus had been significantly contained.
Sokoto

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State says the way
the federal government is treating the issue of insurgency is not comforting.
The governor who spoke while commissioning vehicles donated to the state police command by the MTN foundation, said: “Nigerians are tired of excuses; we want to hear good news. We want to hear something positive. If Nigeria can win a civil war and win the war against militants in the Niger Delta, I wonder why it cannot overcome insurgency”.
He accused the government of being soft in its approach to the matter.
“The federal government needs to change its attitude towards insurgency; it needs to give our security agents all that they need to fight the war and win. I believe we have the capacity to win this war and defeat the agents of darkness,” he said.
He lamented that the way the matter was being handled at the moment was causing fear among the populace.
Wamakko also appealed to members of the public to support security agencies with prayers and useful information.

Governor  Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State (left), receiving a souvenir from Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar 111 for attending the Nigerian Defence Academy Alumni 18th Regular Course Re-Union in Sokoto, recently.

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State (left), receiving a souvenir from Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111 for attending the Nigerian Defence Academy Alumni 18th Regular Course Re-Union in Sokoto, recently.

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REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

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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.
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Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

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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.
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Lagos Residents Stranded As Floods Cut Off Ajah, Mafoluku Communities

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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.
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