Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri has signed the Water Supply and Sanitation Hygiene Services Law 2024, a measure aimed at addressing the state’s ongoing water scarcity.

The new law, signed on Thursday and announced by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, is designed to improve water regulation and sanitation services throughout the state.

It applies to key state agencies, including the Adamawa State Water Services Regulatory Commission and the Adamawa State Water Corporation.

This legislative action comes a week after former senator Ishaku Abbo, representing Adamawa Northern Zone, criticized the state government for prioritizing infrastructure projects like flyovers over essential resources such as water. “Flyovers are for car owners who are in the minority in the state. Flyovers are not bad, but water is more important for survival,” Abbo stated.

READ MORE: JUST IN: NNPC Ltd Disclaims Video Of Adulterated Fuel Sold in Bottles, Jerrycans

The lack of accessible water in Adamawa has led to a sharp increase in prices, with residents in Yola, the state capital, paying up to N3000 for a truck of water. Some neighborhoods, like Bekaji, are experiencing such severe shortages that residents must book for water in advance, making it even more expensive than petrol in some areas.

Alongside the water law, Governor Fintiri signed several other bills, including the Adamawa State Health Supplies Management Agency Law 2024, which replaces the 1996 Essential Drugs Programme Edict, and the Teachers Service Commission Law 2024.

The latter dissolves the previous Adamawa State Teachers’ Service Commission. Additionally, updated laws were enacted for the Adamawa State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology in Ganye, as well as for the Adamawa State College of Nursing Sciences.

Governor Fintiri emphasised the importance of continued engagement to ensure the effective implementation of these new laws, hoping they will address pressing needs and foster sustainable development across Adamawa.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has distanced itself from a video clip showing someone pouring blackish liquid content,  purportedlypurchased from one of its retail outlets.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd., Olufemi Soneye, made the clarification in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

He was explicit that “That NNPC Retail Ltd. does not deal in adulterated products”, in the statement.

ALSO READ: BP, Trafigura, Vitol Lead Global Offtake Of Dangote’s Refined Products

“That we have carried out spot checks at all our outlets and found this claim to be false. The product was not, and could not have been bought from any NNPC Retail outlet as the company does not dispense petroleum products into bottles or jerrycans as displayed in the video,” he added.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has been drawn to the video clip of someone pouring a dark liquid which he claims to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) purportedly bought from an NNPC Retail outlet at Keffi Flyover, and wishes to state as follows:

“That we have carried out spot checks at all our outlets and found this claim to be false. The product was not, and could not have been bought from any NNPC Retail outlet as the company does not dispense petroleum products into bottles or jerrycans as displayed in the video.

“That NNPC Retail Ltd. does not deal in adulterated products as it adheres to rigorous standards and quality control measures at every stage in its operations to ensure that only high-quality, safe, and reliable petroleum products are available at its stations nationwide.

“That members of the public should discountenance the spurious claims made in the video and be wary of selfish and unpatriotic elements pushing such narrative as they do not mean well for the country.

“That we take pride in maintaining accurate pump integrity with regular inspection and calibration to ensure consistency across our stations nationwide.”

A new terrorist group known as ‘Lukarawas’ has emerged, worsening insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, according to the Defence Headquarters.

Major-General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this on Thursday during a military briefing in Abuja.

READ MORE: Tragic Building Collapse In R/State Leaves One Dead, Several Injured

Buba reported that the Lukarawas group, believed to have originated from the Republic of Niger, began operating in Nigeria after the recent coup in Niger disrupted joint security efforts.

With border patrols between Nigerian and Nigerien forces halted, the group made inroads into northern Sokoto and Kebbi States, using rugged border areas between Niger and Mali to establish a foothold.

“The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions in remote areas in some northwestern states to spread their ideology,” Maj.-Gen. Buba said.

Local communities initially welcomed the group, unaware of its motives, and failed to report their activities to authorities, according to Buba.

The military, however, has intensified intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in an effort to curb the group’s growing influence and protect vulnerable regions.

The Lukarawas group is said to be hiding in remote, under-governed areas, making it difficult for security forces to track and eliminate them.

Despite these challenges, Maj.-Gen. Buba assured that the military is focused on dismantling the group’s presence and restoring stability in affected regions.