In a bid to address environmental degradation and transform rural communities, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has reiterated his government’s continued commitment to partner with relevant stakeholders for the economic progress of the state.

The governor said this during the official launch of the Agro Climatic Resilience In Semi Aridlandscapes, (ACReSAL) Project, in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria.

Gathered here are representatives of the nineteen Northern states, including FCT Abuja, who are most affected by the environmental challenges in Nigeria.

They are here to officially launch the 700m US dollar World Bank Intervention Programme.

According to the task team leader, Agro Climatic Resilience In Semi Aridlandscapes Project, Dr Joy Agene, the 700m US Dollar Project, will focus more on the provision of basic social amenities, in the areas of environment, agriculture, and water resources among others, to improve the livelihood of the people.

While launching the programme, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed appreciated the donor partners for coming to assist in addressing the environmental challenges affecting the benefiting states, saying that the intervention came at a time when his administration is fully committed to that task.

In their separate remarks, the World Bank representatives commended the Bauchi State Government for the prompt payment of counterpart funds, urging the benefiting communities to ensure they maximally utilise the opportunity, for the rapid socio-economic development of the state.

Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, commissioned 500 housing units in Birnin Kebbi, as part of efforts to bridge the housing deficit in the state.

The housing units were built by his administration with the active collaboration of a private firm, Family Homes Funds Ltd, under a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Bagudu said at the epochal event to mark the twilight of his administration that the State Government had fully provided all the needed infrastructure at the estate.

According to him, more than 1000 plots had since been allocated to different beneficiaries and assured that the incoming administration of the Governor-elect, Dr Nasiru Idris, Kauran Gwandu, would sustain the laudable project.

“Government is a continuos process, government is work in progress.

 He said that the housing units would be distributed to the intended beneficiaries, saying, “the incoming administration will do more.

 The State Commissioner for Lands, Mamuda Warah, said the gesture was part of the efforts of the state government to provide relief to the citizens through the provision of affordable housing.

Warah said that the houses would be sold to the civil servants and other deserving applicants on owner-occupier basis and outright purchase.

He stated that 70 per cent of the houses of 350 would be sold to the civil servants on owner-occupier basis, with a payment period of fifteen years.

In the same vein, 30 per cent or 150 houses would be sold to the members of the public on outright purchase, with  an initial payment of 50 per cent, while the balance would be paid in two years.

Warah said that each of the three bedroom houses costs N7 million, while each of the two bedroom houses costs N6 million.

He said that a N3.5 billion loan was secured for the project, while infrastructure like roads, water, electricity, recreational facilities, school, clinic.

A man has been arrested for opening a door of an asiana airlines flight as it was landing in south korea.

All 194 passengers survived the flight, which landed safely but with its door still open at daegu international airport on friday.

Some passengers fainted while others had breathing problems and were taken to hospital, local media reported.

The man in his 30s said he was feeling suffocated and wanted to get off quickly, yonhap news agency reported.

Police said the man claimed during questioning that he was stressed after losing his job, according to the report.

Flight oz8124, an airbus a321-200 jet, had taken off from jeju island on friday about 11:45 local time (03:45 gmt).

As it was landing about an hour later, a male passenger opened the emergency door while the plane was still 250m from ground.

A passenger’s video shared on social media shows the gap in the left hand side of the plane and winds buffeting rows of seated passengers.

Flight attendants had not been able to stop him because the plane was about to land, witnesses recounted to local media.

They said the man had also tried to jump out of the plane after opening the door.

Passengers have described the panic on board.

Outgoing Governor of Sokoto state  Aminu Tambuwal has called on the people of Mabera area in Sokoto South local government area of the state to take ownership of the newly constructed 18.59kilometres drainages, constructed to tackle the perennial flooding challenges facing the community for over thirty years by maintaining and periodic distilling of the drainages.

The governor made the call shortly before inaugurating the drainages where he advised the community members to desist from  indiscriminate construction of houses on water ways as well as  to ensure they pay attention to urban planning directives.

Tambuwal said the drainages alongside other ongoing projects is a  collaborative effort  with the world Bank through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, as he revealed that the  World Bank recently approved the engineering design of the collapsed Lugu dam for its rehabilitation.