The Nigerian government has pledged its commitment to support the Taraba State government in harnessing the state’s enormous potential in agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, energy and mineral resources.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the commitment in Jalingo during the celebration of Taraba State’s 35th anniversary and the unveiling of the Taraba Regional Development Master Plan.
Idris, who conveyed the greetings of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council to the government and people of Taraba, described the master plan as an important framework for sustainable and coordinated development of the state.
He, however, cautioned that the success of the plan would depend on its implementation and its ability to improve the lives of residents.
“The success of this Master Plan will not be measured by the ceremony at which it is unveiled, but by the roads built, businesses created, jobs generated, communities connected and lives improved,” Idris said.
According to the minister, Taraba is one of Nigeria’s most promising economic frontiers, citing its opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing, livestock, hydropower, tourism, manufacturing and mineral development.
He commended Governor Agbu Kefas for adopting a long-term development framework and for investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, security and economic development.
Idris particularly highlighted the state government’s policy of free and compulsory primary and secondary education, as well as the allocation of more than ₦1.8 billion in 2026 for the registration of students in public schools for NECO, BECE and NABTEB examinations.
The minister disclosed that financing agreements valued at about $268 million had been signed between Taraba State and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development for the development of an integrated industrial park, 10,000 hectares of irrigated rice production and processing, and a 50-megawatt solar power plant in Jalingo.
He stressed that such investments would help convert Taraba’s natural resources into productive economic activities, value addition, employment opportunities and sustainable growth.
“These are more than roads. They are investments in connectivity, trade, tourism, agriculture, security and the movement of people and goods,” he said.
Idris also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to developing Taraba’s agricultural, energy and mineral resources, including the strategic Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
On security, the minister said ongoing reforms towards the establishment of State Police would bring policing closer to communities while maintaining professionalism, accountability and safeguards against abuse.
He said the initiative could be particularly beneficial to Taraba because of its vast terrain and dispersed border communities, where local intelligence and rapid response were critical.
Idris also pointed to the establishment of the Nigerian Army’s 10 Division, headquartered in Jalingo, with operational responsibility for Taraba and Adamawa states, as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening security in the region.
“Security and development must go together. People cannot invest, farmers cannot move their produce, tourists cannot visit, and businesses cannot grow where communities feel unsafe,” he said.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Government Expands Practical Learning in Agriculture
The minister also defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, saying the policy had generated an additional ₦15.8 trillion for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025.
He said about ₦5.4 trillion accrued to the Federal Government, while approximately ₦10.4 trillion went to state and local governments.
Idris maintained that the Nigerian government had no intention of returning to the previous subsidy regime, stressing that the priority was to consolidate the gains of the reforms, protect vulnerable Nigerians and ensure that public resources translated into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
“Development must remain people-centred, with particular attention to creating opportunities for young people, expanding women’s economic participation, supporting farmers and small businesses, and connecting communities to markets and public services,” he said.
The Information Minister further pledged stronger collaboration between the Federal 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 were understood and embraced by citizens.
Idris congratulated the government and people of Taraba on the state’s 35th anniversary, describing the occasion as both a celebration of the state’s history and a renewed commitment to its future.
“Thirty-five years of history. A new blueprint for the future. And a renewed commitment to building the Taraba we want and the Nigeria we deserve,” he added.
Speaking at the occasion, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas called for continuity in governance, acknowledging the contributions of former military administrators and elected governors to the development of Taraba.
Kefas said his administration would build on previous achievements, address areas requiring attention, complete worthy projects and open new frontiers for future generations.
Urging former leaders of the state to continue contributing their experience and institutional knowledge towards promoting peace, unity and prosperity.
“Government must be a continuum. Development must be cumulative. Taraba is bigger than any government, any administration, any political party, any ethnic group, or any individual,” the governor said.
