FG BACKS TARABA’S DEVELOPMENT BLUEPRINT, PROMISES STRONGER FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP

The Federal Government has pledged stronger collaboration with the Taraba State Government to unlock the state’s potential in agriculture, energy, tourism, infrastructure and mineral resources.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the commitment in Jalingo during celebrations marking Taraba State’s 35th anniversary and the unveiling of the Taraba Regional Development Master Plan.

Idris described the newly unveiled master plan as an important framework for guiding Taraba’s long-term development, while commending Governor Agbu Kefas for adopting a development strategy designed to provide a clear direction for the state’s future.

The minister, however, stressed that the success of the plan would not be determined by its unveiling but by its ability to produce tangible improvements in the lives of residents through the creation of jobs, businesses, infrastructure and stronger connections between communities.

He identified agriculture and agro-processing, livestock, hydropower, tourism, manufacturing and mineral resources as areas with significant potential to drive economic growth in Taraba.

Idris also highlighted some of the state’s ongoing investments, including more than ₦1.8bn allocated in 2026 for examination registration for students in public schools. He also cited about $268m in financing agreements between Taraba and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development for an integrated industrial park, 10,000 hectares of irrigated rice production and processing, and a 50-megawatt solar power project in Jalingo.

The Federal Government also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting infrastructure development in the state. Idris listed several federal road projects, including the Gembu–Mbamnga–Yang Road, Bali–Serti–Gashaka–Gembu Road and interventions along the Jalingo–Mutum Biyu–Tella–Wukari corridor.

According to the minister, the projects are expected to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, support agriculture and tourism, enhance security and make it easier for people and goods to move across the state.

Idris further pledged federal support for the development of Taraba’s energy and mineral resources, including efforts surrounding the long-awaited Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

He also linked security to economic development, noting that farmers, businesses, tourists and investors would find it difficult to operate effectively in communities where residents feel unsafe. He said the Federal Government was pursuing reforms aimed at bringing policing closer to communities while maintaining professionalism and accountability.

The minister said the Federal Government’s economic reforms had also created additional resources for development, noting that the removal of the petrol subsidy generated ₦15.8tn in additional Federation resources between June 2023 and December 2025.

Governor Kefas, in his remarks, called for continuity in governance and urged former leaders of the state to continue contributing their experience and knowledge to Taraba’s development.

He maintained that development should be bigger than any administration, political party, ethnic group or individual, stressing that successive governments must build on existing achievements while correcting shortcomings.

The Federal Government also pledged closer cooperation between the Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the Taraba State Ministry of Information and Re-Orientation to ensure that the objectives of the master plan are properly communicated and embraced by residents.

The unveiling of the Taraba Regional Development Master Plan therefore marks a new phase in the state’s development strategy, with the Federal Government expected to support its implementation through infrastructure, investment and policy collaboration.