The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) programme has urged Bauchi residents to embrace good environmental and sanitation habits to forestall flood disaster in the state.

The Project Coordinator, Dr.

Ibrahim Kabir, said this at a stakeholders’ engagement exercise, on Tuesday in Bauchi.

He said the exercise was designed to enhance awareness creation on flood preparedness and response to mitigate flooding, protect the environment, lives and livelihoods.

Kabir said that the engagement exercise was a first line action employed by the programme following the NIHSA’s National Flood Advisory, which predicted flooding in 17 local government areas of the state.

He said that the prediction indicated flooding would affect 1,845 communities, 145 schools, 101 healthcare facilities and eight markets across the state.

The coordinator said that Gov. Bala Mohammed directed ACReSAL to liase with the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and other line Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) to upscale flood preparedness and response.

Kabir said that the exercise would enable the participants, including community and religious groups, development organisations, media and MDAs, to engage in rigorous sensitisation, discussions and pre-disaster training.

“It is envisaged that the outcome of the stakeholder engagement will guide the subsequent actions, as all involved will share experiences and provide a peculiar roadmap for the state,” he said.

The state Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Danlami Kawulle, said that the state government successfully mitigated flooding via similar stakeholder engagements during the previous rainy seasons.

He said that the state government has adopted proactive climate resilience initiatives to mitigate flood, control erosion, protect lives and properties.

While commending Gov. Bala Mohammed for his commitment to environmental protection, Kawulle pledged to cooperate with groups, communities and the media to prevent flood disaster in the state.

Executive Secretary, SEMA, Aminu Nayola, said that the agency had scaled up community sensitisation as part of measures to avert the disaster.

He said that the agency was collaborating with NEMA and other agencies to enhance flood response services.

Similarly, Dr Mohammed Bose, Director-General, BASEPA, said that the agency had evacuated solid waste and cleared drains in Bauchi metropolis, to control flooding.

Bose urged residents of the state to shun indiscriminate dumping of waste, erection of structures on water ways, and plant trees to protect the environment.

On his part, Umar Sa’idu, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi council, pledged media support to control flooding and other environmental hazards in the state.

From John Lamma, Jalingo

Eleven years after the salary arrears began accumulating, the Taraba State Government has flagged off the phased payment of outstanding salaries owed to local government workers, primary school teachers, pensioners and members of traditional councils, reaffirming Governor Agbu Kefas’ commitment to improving the welfare of citizens.

The flag-off ceremony was held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Ardo-Kola Local Government Secretariat in Sunkani.

The exercise was conducted by the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs through its Permanent Secretary, Engr. Andrew Dame.

Dame said Governor Kefas approved the payment of five months of salary arrears owed since 2015 as part of his administration’s determination to improve the welfare of workers and restore confidence in the local government system.

He explained that although the governor approved the payment of five months’ arrears, the state would begin with one month’s payment due to limited financial resources, while the remaining balance would be paid in instalments over the next five months.

The Permanent Secretary described Kefas as a civil service-friendly leader who has consistently placed the welfare of citizens at the centre of his administration. He noted that the government implemented the new national minimum wage of N70,000, replacing the previous N30,000 minimum wage, as part of efforts to improve the living standards of workers in the state.

He urged local government workers, teachers and other public servants to remain dedicated to their duties by reporting regularly to work and providing quality services to the people.

Dame also directed local government chairmen and directors to ensure that the funds reached all genuine beneficiaries, including the families of deceased workers entitled to receive the payments. He assured beneficiaries that the government would faithfully implement the governor’s directive by completing the phased payment of the arrears.

In his address, the Chairman of Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, Umar Bello Badawaire, commended Governor Kefas for approving the payment, describing it as a demonstration of his concern for the welfare of workers.

He also appreciated the Permanent Secretary for ensuring that the process became a reality and pledged the loyalty and continued support of the local government administration to the governor.

The President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Taraba State Chapter, Comrade Bajison Wakili Damuga, praised Governor Kefas for approving and facilitating the payment of the outstanding salaries.

According to him, the decision has brought hope, relief and renewed confidence to workers, pensioners and members of the traditional councils who had waited for years for the payment.

He said the gesture reflects the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and strengthening local government administration, assuring the governor of the union’s continued support while urging members to remain disciplined and committed to their responsibilities.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, pensioner Elnathan Bila Auta expressed gratitude to Governor Kefas for fulfilling his promise to begin clearing the long-standing salary arrears.

He described the payment as a huge relief to retirees and their families, saying it would help reduce the financial hardship many had endured over the years.

The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Taraba State Chapter and Chairman of Kurmi Local Government Council, Moses Maihankali, commended Governor Kefas for addressing an issue that previous administrations had left unresolved.

He said the commencement of the payment had renewed the confidence and morale of local government workers and urged them to reciprocate the governor’s gesture through dedication and productivity.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Taraba State Chapter, Comrade Peter Jediel, also lauded Governor Kefas for his commitment to workers’ welfare and pledged the continued support of organised labour for the administration.

The flag-off marks the beginning of the phased payment of salary arrears owed since 2015 to local government workers, primary school teachers, pensioners and members of traditional councils across Taraba State, bringing renewed hope to beneficiaries after more than a decade of waiting.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that Nigeria’s foreign reserves have exceeded its annual target and has climbed above $52.5 billion as of July 17, 2026, representing a 17-year high.

The apex bank attributed the country’s rising foreign reserves to renewed investor confidence and sustained capital inflows, saying its ongoing economic reforms are restoring stability to Nigeria’s financial system.

The Acting Director of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Department of the CBN, Hakama Sidi Ali, revealed this while delivering the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso’s opening remarks at the CBN Fair held on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre, Gombe.

She said the increase was supported by sustained foreign exchange inflows and renewed investor participation across various asset classes in the Nigerian economy, reflecting growing confidence in the country’s economic management.

According to her, the reforms introduced under the leadership of CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso are beginning to produce measurable gains, including improved macroeconomic stability, easing inflation and greater confidence in the foreign exchange market.

She noted that headline inflation declined slightly from 15.93 per cent in May to 15.91 per cent in June 2026, while both food and core inflation also moderated during the period due to disciplined monetary tightening, exchange-rate unification and improved market transparency.

The CBN Acting Director of Corporate Communications further stated that the naira has continued to strengthen, with the gap between the official exchange rate and Bureau de Change rates narrowing to below two per cent, a development she described as evidence of improving foreign exchange market stability.

She highlighted other reforms undertaken by the apex bank over the past 34 months, including banking sector recapitalisation, the launch of the non-resident Bank Verification Number (BVN), the B-Match foreign exchange trading platform, the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028 and the introduction of the Nigerian Overnight Financing Rate benchmark.

She reaffirmed the CBN’s commitment to maintaining monetary and price stability while implementing policies that encourage investment, strengthen financial markets and promote sustainable economic growth.

The Branch Controller of the CBN Gombe Branch, Yunusa Buba Mubi, described the CBN Fair as an annual engagement platform designed to educate the public on the Bank’s policies and provide an avenue for stakeholders to ask questions and offer feedback.

He urged participants to actively engage in the sensitisation sessions to enhance public understanding of the Bank’s initiatives and their impact on the nation’s economy.