By Abubakar Barde

When His Excellency, Governor Agbu Kefas, was sworn in as the Executive Governor of Taraba State, though not a member of my party, he won my heart completely when he announced young and vibrant personalities into his cabinet. I was among the first people to declare that, for this singular gesture alone, we must give him all the support he needs to succeed, because his failure would potentially and significantly indict young people given opportunities in governance. Since then, I have been a spectator in the bleachers, cheering him on from afar. However, I would like to humbly take stock of his two years in office.

I used to, and still do, though with more caution, see Kefas as a catalyst for Taraba’s political and administrative revolution when he insisted that those holding the reins of administrative positions in his government should not be above a certain age. I initially feared for him but also admired his courage in attempting to demystify the elitist and recycled politics in the state. For that reason, just like Kefas and his co-travellers, I envisaged that he would be under uncommon scrutiny by those made redundant by the new era.

However, distinguishing productive criticism from those that are politically motivated becomes a tide too treacherous to weather. As this administration marks two years at the helm of Taraba State, the Agbu Kefas administration is increasingly defined by bold moves and a clear appetite for transformation. Regarding the impact of these moves, I would prefer to contextualise them using key sectors.

 

1. EDUCATION 
Governor Kefas’s introduction of free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school levels, as well as the slashing of tuition fees at Taraba State University, has driven up enrolment significantly, giving hope to many families long locked out of learning due to economic hardship. The decision to pay JAMB, WAEC, and NECO fees for final-year students is also widely applauded. This is perhaps one of the most people-focused reforms in Nigeria today. It aligns with global goals of access to education for all.

However, the policy’s immediate success has created structural pressures. While the sad state of school facilities in the state was inherited by the current administration, this bold policy has placed an astronomical burden on structures that were not adequate in the first place.

Classrooms are overcrowded, teaching materials are insufficient, and the number of qualified teachers is not keeping pace with demand. The university too is struggling to raise funds, as well-structured and formidable imbursement mechanisms have not been put in place to recover the funds they now forfeit as a result of the rebate.

Recommendation: To sustain and strengthen the impact of Governor Kefas’s bold education reform, it is recommended that the state immediately embark on a phased school infrastructure expansion programme targeting overcrowded and underserved areas, while simultaneously launching an accelerated teacher recruitment and training scheme to address the rising demand for quality instruction. To ensure long-term financial sustainability, especially at the tertiary level, a cost-sharing and recovery framework should be developed for Taraba State University, including the establishment of an education endowment fund and the activation of public-private partnerships. Additionally, community involvement should be deepened through School-Based Management Committees, while a state-level task force monitors implementation and feedback. The integration of low-cost digital learning tools should also be explored to complement classroom delivery, especially in areas where physical expansion may take time.

 

2. HEALTHCARE
From the groundbreaking of a new teaching hospital in Wukari to the resuscitation of nursing schools, the administration has shown a long-term vision for healthcare development. The engagement of more health workers is a welcome step, especially given the national shortage. Healthcare reform has been prioritised in both capital and human development terms, a sign of strategic foresight.

However, the benefits are not yet reaching rural and hard-to-reach communities. Some facilities lack drugs, equipment, and resident personnel.

 

Recommendation: To ensure the healthcare reforms translate into meaningful impact across Taraba State, it is recommended that the government adopt a mobile clinic model powered by solar energy to reach remote and underserved communities, while fast-tracking the completion of the teaching hospital in Wukari as a flagship institution. This teaching hospital effort should be complemented by a targeted scholarship and fast-track medical education scheme designed to produce homegrown medical practitioners, especially from within the state, to fill the glaring personnel deficit.

Additionally, resuscitated nursing and midwifery schools should be integrated into a broader health workforce pipeline. To retain skilled professionals in rural areas, housing and welfare packages tailored to healthcare workers should be introduced, alongside incentives for continuous professional development.

 

3. ECONOMY 
• IGR vs Debt: One of the notable economic achievements of the Taraba State Government under Governor Agbu Kefas is the significant boost in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which reportedly increased from ₦700 million to over ₦2 billion by December 2024. This tripling of revenue demonstrates an improvement in the state's financial management capacity and supposedly suggests a broader strategy to reduce overdependence on federal allocations and/or borrowing.
On the other hand, the government’s accumulation of over ₦400 billion in debt, including a ₦350 billion bond approved by the State House of Assembly, dilutes the impact of the IGR. The government that gained office by directly and constantly engaging with the people is, in my opinion, now using too much technical jargon to explain the impact of this elephantine debt. This has fuelled scepticism and eroded public trust in the administration’s financial strategy.

 

Recommendation: To reinforce public confidence and ensure that debt-financed projects yield intended economic benefits, the government should institutionalise a transparent debt-tracking and impact assessment framework. Projects funded by loans should be frequently monitored, audited, and publicly reported.

Furthermore, there is an urgent need for more frequent and open communication between the government and the people. This includes monthly or quarterly town hall meetings, press briefings, and community updates on debt usage, IGR performance, and project timelines. Strengthening feedback loops with citizens will promote accountability, dispel misinformation, and enhance trust in the administration’s economic agenda.

I would suggest these town hall meetings be panelled by the young and vibrant commissioners His Excellency appointed, so that they too can begin to piggy-bank their own political currency. This is so because 100% technocracy makes re-election a tall order. Despite the temptation to elaborate further, I will leave it at that.

• Taravest: One of the more innovative moves by the Kefas administration is the Taraba International Investment Summit (Taravest), a state-owned investment promotion and development vehicle designed to reposition Taraba as a serious player in Nigeria’s investment landscape. Taravest is a forward-thinking initiative that speaks the language of modern economic development. For a state rich in land, water, tourism potential, and minerals, an agency that speaks directly to investors while de-risking entry is essential.

As commendable as the summit was, it brought big names in business who made ear-gasmic speeches, the common man in the village remains completely disjointed from what the summit promised. Some of the investment opportunities highlighted included mining. Yet, mining has been suspended for quite some time now. Granted, the suspension was necessary, but it remains a mystery why the solution to the mining challenges is taking forever to materialise. Two years have passed, and a huge opportunity for a significant addition to the scorecard has been lost because whatever dividends Tarabans would benefit from through mining are likely to take longer than the remaining two years to become visible. Taravest’s visibility and traction beyond government circles remain limited. Many Tarabans are still unsure how it connects to their daily lives. Additionally, its investment attraction efforts have yet to yield widely visible private-sector projects.

Recommendation: To strengthen the long-term impact of Taravest and rebuild public confidence in investment-driven development, the government should prioritise equipping and supporting local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the capacity, both in knowledge and infrastructure, to align with the needs of potential Foreign Direct Investors (FDIs) and domestic investors. Taravest must shift from high-level branding to a more grassroots-friendly structure that facilitates real opportunities for local entrepreneurs. This includes being more specific about the critical support businesses that must be developed alongside major investments, such as logistics, processing, and maintenance services, to create a functioning investment ecosystem. Local content must be deliberately promoted, not just as a slogan, but as a policy framework ensuring local ownership, employment, and service provision. Previous projects like the greenhouse initiative and cassava factories, once promising but ultimately abandoned, should be studied and audited to avoid repeating past mistakes that undermine investor trust. Moreover, regular, transparent, and simplified communication between the government, Taravest, and the general public is critical to ensure that Tarabans, especially those in rural areas, understand and feel included in the unfolding investment agenda.

 

4. AGRICULTURE 
Taraba’s vast landmass and favourable climate position it as one of Nigeria’s key agricultural states. The government’s support for dry season farming and the gradual move to digitalise land ownership and farming data are commendable steps toward modernising agriculture. The introduction of mechanised farming and the distribution of inputs like fertilisers and improved seedlings are also appreciated by many rural farmers.

However, the agriculture strategy seems too slow-paced for a state that should be feeding the country. Much of the intervention is not properly coordinated, and there appears to be a lack of synergy between the government and key agricultural stakeholders, including cooperatives, processors, and marketers. Additionally, despite the distribution of farm inputs, there is still limited access to finance for smallholder farmers, who constitute the bulk of producers in the state. The lack of adequate post-harvest infrastructure also means that even when yields improve, losses remain high.

 

Recommendation
To unlock the full potential of agriculture in Taraba, the government should urgently establish a State Agriculture Coordination Office under the Ministry of Agriculture that harmonises all intervention efforts, liaises with cooperatives and private sector actors, and tracks progress across the value chain. Additionally, the state should develop a comprehensive agro-value chain masterplan identifying priority crops and livestock, processing zones, and market linkages. Special focus should be placed on post-harvest handling, including constructing storage facilities, introducing solar-powered cold chains, and building rural access roads. The establishment of an Agricultural Development Fund will also allow for predictable financing and targeted subsidies for smallholder farmers. Finally, the government should seek to strengthen partnerships with development partners, local banks, and fintech companies to provide affordable agricultural credit and insurance to farmers in a transparent and digitised manner.
 
5. SECURITY AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE
Security is a major concern in Taraba, especially in areas affected by farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and communal disputes. The governor has made efforts in collaboration with federal security agencies to tackle insecurity, including increased surveillance and improved support for security operatives.

Nonetheless, peace remains fragile in many rural areas, and displacement has undermined agricultural productivity and social cohesion. There is a general sense that security efforts are too centralised and not well-integrated with traditional institutions and local communities. In some areas, the lack of effective local governance structures contributes to the feeling of abandonment.

Recommendation
A more community-centric and intelligence-driven security approach is urgently needed. The government should establish and empower a Taraba State Peace and Security Council that includes traditional leaders, youth representatives, local vigilante groups, religious leaders, and security agencies.

This council would coordinate early warning and conflict resolution mechanisms, monitor community tensions, and foster grassroots dialogue. Furthermore, the government should formalise and support local security initiatives, such as community policing, under a legal and accountable framework. The state’s Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs must also be strengthened to work more closely with LGAs to improve service delivery, local development planning, and conflict mitigation. Finally, there must be deliberate efforts to reintegrate displaced persons, rebuild destroyed communities, and support trauma healing programmes, especially for women and children affected by violence.

In this overview, I have deliberately left out other critical sectors such as tourism, power, transportation, and infrastructure, each deserving of detailed examination in their own right. I would have also loved to delve deeper into agriculture and security, but to do so now would be like feeding into the final point I wish to make.

That point is this: too many small projects are happening simultaneously, leading to dilution of impact. His Excellency, in his admirable attempt to please everyone, risks gradually displeasing everyone. The heavy debt burden reflects the government’s desire to fulfil all campaign promises within a single term, a laudable ambition, but one that, if unchecked, may jeopardise his reputation as a politician in general.

Notably, I have also refrained from commenting extensively on the Taraba State Master Plan, which this administration takes great pride in. With all due respect, while Taraba unquestionably needs a strategic blueprint to navigate its complex path toward economic and social self-reliance, it is execution that lends any plan its true potency. Particularly within a democratic dispensation, unfinished or partially implemented initiatives naturally invite scrutiny and prodding.

I am aware that Governor Kefas has recently been enjoying the generosity of letters that Tarabans are famously known for and because of that, this reflection may well slip through unnoticed. Peradventure it is noticed, I hope it will not be construed as criticism, whether positive or negative.

Rather, it should be regarded as an extension of an internal review, a retreat communique, if you will, from half of a promising administration seeking to better itself in the second half ahead.
 
(Abubakar Barde, a former House of Representatives aspirant for the Donga, Takum, Ussa, and Yangtu Special Development Area, writes from Abuja).