News
SMEDAN Empowers 80 Women In Agribusiness In Bauchi

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has embarked on a 5-day entrepreneurship development training and empowerment of 80 women in agribusiness in Bauchi state.
The Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, stated this in Bauchi on Friday at the closing ceremony of the training.
According to him, the programme was initiated under ‘Women in Self Employment Programme (WISE-P)’ of the agency with particular focus on women who are into farming and agribusiness (agro value chain) production.
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Represented by Mr Mahmood Isa, Zonal Coordinator, SMEDAN, North-East, Fasanya said that a lot of women are into farming and many are willing to take up farming or Agri-business as a means of livelihood and self-employment.
However, they are limited in progress because they do not have the requisite skills and finance required to carry on successfully and even access markets, hence, the introduction of the programme by SMEDAN.
“The programme is designed to provide entrepreneurship training, vocational training, empowerment with common facilities and delivery of business development service to 80 participants per state across six selected states for phase one.
“Today, the first phase of the programme is commencing simultaneously in six states of Osun, Ebonyi, Katsina, Bauchi, Ekiti and Kwara.
“The WISE-P is designed basically to promote self-reliance amongst women and to empower them to achieve improved productivity and sustainability in businesses in terms of crop farming and agro- processing along the value chains.
“It is also to boost production of raw materials for industrial use,development because it is said that when you train a woman, you train a nation and when you empower a woman, you have liberated the nation,” said the DG.
He further explained that all the beneficiaries would be empowered with the necessary support and equipment necessary to ease their means of doing business.
Fasanya also said that one of the objectives of the programme was to facilitate and link women farmers to resources required to enhance their farming businesses so as to make it a sustainable occupation.
He added that the programme was also to expose the women farmers to practical hands-on training on the use of modern farming techniques as well as to build their capacities and inculcate the principles of value addition to farm produce.
Also speaking, Zainab Abdulkadir, one of the participants who spoke on behalf of others, appreciated the federal government and SMEDAN for the kind gesture.
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She added that they got exposed to a lot of things they are supposed to be doing hitherto now but we’re being neglected by them.
According to her, they have acquired a lot of knowledge that would help them to improve their businesses and urged SMEDAN to help look into capital challenges faced by many women farmers across the country.
News
Lagos Unveils Artisan Certification To Curb Building Collapse

The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory has launched a new certification and training programme for artisans in the construction industry as part of efforts to stem the spate of building collapses in the state.
The initiative, known as the Certified Structural Integrated Programme, was unveiled at a stakeholders’ forum held in Ese-Offin and Badagry, where block moulders, bricklayers, concrete mixers, steel fabricators and welders converged to pledge support for safer construction practices.
In a statement on Thursday by the Lagos Government, General Manager of LSMTL, Olayinka Abdul, said the programme marked a decisive step in tackling recurring tragedies linked to substandard construction materials.
“Without artisans, there is no construction. But with you, we have the power to ensure every construction is safe, sound, and secure. We need to earnestly curb episodes of collapse in high-water-prone communities, and we do not want such in your community. It ends today,” he said.
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According to the statement, the CSIP is a five-year assessment programme aimed at certifying construction materials as fit-for-purpose.
It will also produce an official directory of approved block moulders, concrete mixers and steel fabricators, to whom developers will be directed for supplies.
“This is not just about enforcement; it is about partnership and empowerment. Together, we can forge an unbreakable alliance that makes Lagos a model for building safety and integrity,” Abdul added.
Technical experts at the forum highlighted the scientific backing for the initiative. Director of the Soil and Geotechnics Unit, Engr. Abimbola Adebayo, stressed the need for mandatory soil tests before construction.
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Similarly, Kayode Akinfeleye of the Technical Services Department advised builders to ensure architectural drawings are obtained and preserved, describing them as “a core requirement in the Lagos building process.”
Artisan guild leaders welcomed the initiative. Chairman of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, Alhaji Fabiyi Oyeleke, described frequent collapses as “disheartening” and commended the forum as a step in the right direction.
On his part, Chairman of the Lagos State Bricklayers Association, Mr. Fashina Aro, noted the peculiarities of Lagos’s swampy terrain and urged all stakeholders to ensure materials and soil tests are completed before bricklayers commence work on any site.
Building collapse has been a persistent challenge in Lagos, with many lives lost and substantial property damage over the years.
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In recent incidents, emergency responders have had to rescue workers from collapsed structures.
PUNCH Online reports that rescue teams pulled eight workers from the debris of a collapsed building in September.
Reports by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild show Lagos accounts for about 55% of recorded building collapse incidents in Nigeria over the past several decades.
In response, Lagos has taken steps to strengthen bodies like the Lagos State Building Control Agency, enhancing enforcement, monitoring, and regulation of building standards.
News
Edo deputy gov warns MOWAA Against encroachment

Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has warned management of Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) to adhere strictly to laid-down demarcation between the museum and the Edo Specialist Hospital (ESH).
Idahosa, who gave the warning when he visited the site on Thursday, expressed displeasure over MOWAA’s alleged encroachment on ESH land despite earlier directives.
The deputy governor stressed that governor Monday Okpebholo had mandated him to ensure compliance with the demarcation lines.
“Governor Okpebholo asked me to advise and also warn the MOWAA management to stick to the demarcation lines between the ESH and the MOWAA institution,” the deputy governor said.
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During the visit, Idahosa supervised the demolition of parts of the obsolete tuberculosis building at the hospital and monitored debris clearance to facilitate the hospital’s expansion project.
Recounting earlier efforts, he said: “Few weeks ago, we were here to give demarcation on the boundary between MOWAA and the ESH.Apparently, the MOWAA management decided to encroach on the land given to ESH.
“We came to let them know that the Edo State Government is firm on it, and we have given them the right coordinates. We have also sealed the part that belongs to the ESH, so MOWAA, at this point, can no longer encroach.”
Idahosa emphasized that the government’s priority remains the security and health of Edo people, noting that compliance with lawful boundaries is in the interest of both institutions.
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“This is not a witch hunt. The governor is fair enough to allow MOWAA to continue with whatever we met on ground. He has not encroached or done anything contrary to the law. Hence, they should also stick and abide by the law,” he said.
The Chief Medical Director of ESH, Dr. Anthonia Njoku commended Okpebholo for protecting the hospital’s expansion interest.
Similarly, the Managing Director of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency, Mr. Imoisili Igabali noted that negotiations had been ongoing with MOWAA over the demarcation and that a temporary perimeter wall had been set up in the meantime.
“As an agency, our responsibility in the state is to ensure that development in the state is done according to laid down rules and regulations,” Igabali stated.
News
Police Begin Enforcement Of Tinted Glass, Siren Regulations In Edo, Delta

The Zone Five Police Command have begun enforcing the ban on the unauthorised use of sirens and tinted glass permit regulations.
NAN reports that the zone five command located in the South-south Geo-political Zone comprises Edo and Delta.
This is contained in a statement by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tijani Momoh, in Abuja.
The exercise, the command said, is in line with the existing laws and directives of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, which apply to all vehicles with tinted glasses, whether factory or non-factory fitted.
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Momoh quoted the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, Salma-Dogo Garba, as saying that the enforcement would also affect the subsisting ban on the unauthorised use of sirens.
According to Garba, there will also be strict enforcement on the use of revolving lights, Police SPY and unallocated official number plates, as well as the use of unregistered vehicles.
“In view of the above, motorists yet to register their vehicles with tinted glasses are strongly advised to do so at www.possap.gov.ng.
“Thereafter, they should proceed to their state command headquarters for physical verification.
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“Those who are not desirous of obtaining the tinted glass permit are advised to remove such tints or replace the factory-fitted glasses with transparent ones, as legally provided by the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act 2004.”
The AIG warned field operatives and their supervisory officers to ensure that the exercise was carried out with utmost professionalism, devoid of any form of harassment or extortion of motorists.
He stressed that any officer found wanting would be duly sanctioned, while the concerned supervisory officer would be held liable.
Garba further urged motorists to cooperate with the Police during the exercise in order to ensure public safety and national security.
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He also charged residents to promptly report any form of harassment, extortion, or other unprofessional conduct to the nearest police station, the commands CRUs, or the ZPPRO.
NAN reports that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced that strict enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit requirement will begin across Nigeria on Thursday.
The directive comes under the authority of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, a law intended to bolster security and curb criminal behaviour.
Under the new mandate, all vehicles with tinted windows are expected to carry valid and verifiable permit documents, which must be presented whenever requested by law enforcement.
NAN
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