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Falling Bridge Disrupts Movement, Economic Activities In Taraba Communities
Residents of Jalingo and Yorro Local Government Councils of Taraba State have appealed to their representatives in the National Assembly to urgently facilitate the reconstruction of the collapsed Mallam Audu Bridge, a critical link between the two councils.
The bridge, popularly known as Gadan Mallam Audu, was recently washed away by heavy rainfall that lasted several hours, cutting off the shortest route between Jalingo, the state capital, and Pantisawa, the administrative headquarters of Yorro Local Government Council.
A visit to the area revealed that the collapse of the bridge has severely disrupted movement between the affected communities, leaving residents stranded and forcing commuters to take longer and more difficult alternative routes.
For many years, the bridge served as a vital transport corridor for students, civil servants, traders, and farmers transporting agricultural produce from the fertile Yorro mountains to markets in Jalingo.
Its collapse has not only hindered mobility but has also negatively affected commercial activities and access to essential services.
Residents who spoke on Tuesday expressed concern over the hardship caused by the incident and called on the senator representing Taraba North senatorial district and the member representing Jalingo, Yorro and Zing federal constituency to urgently draw the attention of relevant authorities to the situation.
One of the residents, Ishaka Bala, described the bridge as an economic lifeline whose collapse has had far-reaching consequences on daily life.
“The collapsed bridge has disrupted transportation, economic activities, and access to healthcare, education, and other essential services. We are appealing to our representatives to intervene and ensure that the bridge is reconstructed as quickly as possible,” he said.
According to Bala, swift intervention by the lawmakers would go a long way in alleviating the suffering currently being experienced by residents of the affected communities.
Another resident, Musa Kasuwa, recalled that the bridge was originally constructed through the intervention of a former member representing the area in the National Assembly.
He noted that signs of structural weakness had been evident for months before the bridge was eventually washed away.
“We are calling on our senator and member representing us in the House of Representatives to emulate their predecessor by facilitating the reconstruction of this bridge. Movement from Yorro to Jalingo has become extremely difficult since it collapsed,” Kasuwa said.
Beyond the appeal to federal lawmakers, residents are also calling on the Taraba State Government to provide a temporary access route to ease transportation challenges while awaiting the reconstruction of the bridge.
As the rainy season intensifies, community members fear that continued inaction could further isolate several settlements, worsen economic losses, and limit access to critical public services.
For now, residents can only hope that urgent steps will be taken to restore the vital connection that has long served as a gateway between Jalingo and Yorro communities.
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Breaking: Nigerian Workers Demand N300,000 Minimum Wage, FG Faces Fresh Salary Pressure
The Federal Workers Forum, FWF, has demanded an immediate increase in the federal minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000, noting that the current salary structure can no longer sustain civil servants amid Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
The Forum made the demand in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly, with the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation listed among the recipients.
The workers also proposed a new salary structure that would place the highest-paid Level 17 officer on a monthly salary of N1.5 million, while Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn N300,000.
“We call for justice and immediate wage review now, adjust the federal minimum wage to N300,000 and a maximum wage of N1.5m for the Level 17 officers,” the Forum said.
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The FWF argued that the Federal Government had not fully implemented the 2024 minimum wage agreement, claiming that federal workers had yet to receive the full consequential adjustment and associated allowances.
“It will surprise you to hear that the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024. We have been in the battle for full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage,” it said.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in August 2026, demanded an upward review of the minimum wage to N500,000.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu’s government increased the minimum wage to N70,000 per month from N30,000.
However, the cost of living for many Nigerians has tripled between 2024 and 2026.
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The Federal Government has said Nigeria will never support a military coup or any unconstitutional change of government, following claims that the country backed a failed coup attempt in the Niger Republic.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the statement, the claims circulating on social media are baseless and misleading.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria remained committed to democracy, constitutional rule and political stability in West Africa and would not support any attempt to remove a government through unconstitutional means.
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“Nigeria will never support illegality or unconstitutional change of government anywhere, no matter who is involved or which country is concerned,” he said.
The minister also rejected claims that Nigeria, through its membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), supported or endorsed the military takeover in Niger.
He said the Federal Government had already stated its position on the situation in Niger in an earlier statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 30, 2026.
According to him, Nigeria remains deeply concerned about developments in Niger and wants the country to return peacefully to stability and constitutional order.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s close historical, cultural and fraternal ties with Niger made peace and stability in the neighbouring country particularly important.
“Nigerians at home and abroad should disregard the videos and narratives circulating online, they are intended to create confusion and tarnish Nigeria’s image,” the statement said.
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