‘What Gov Kefas Has Done In One Year’ •Opposition Leaders Say Taraba Is Moving Forward Under Gov Kefas •‘Gov Kefas Completing Abandoned Projects Across State’
Residents across Taraba State has continued to highlight achievements of Governor Agbu Kefas in the last one year, describing it as unprecedented in recent history of the state.
The residents while listing the achievement of the Governor Kefas's administration said the state has seen a significant progress in areas such as, Security, Education, Infrastructure, Agriculture, and human capacity building.
The residents, who spoke in separate interviews said the procurement of tractors for farmers, the declaration of a state of emergency on education, enrollment of local government pensioners, and 50 per cent reduction in the school fees of the College of Nursing and Midwifery among others were great steps towards repositioning the state on the part of development.
The immediate past Clerk of the Taraba House of Assembly, Chief Orngu Mellah, lauded Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba for his transformative efforts in the state particularly commencement of payment of gratuity which has been suspended for years.
Mellah commended the governor for his initiatives in free education, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructural development, noted that the free education policy would no doubt place Taraba on a global scale in the near future.
He expressed optimism that the next three years under Kefas' leadership would be even more eventful given the foundation he has laid.
"This is the first time Taraba has had a governor who understands the workings of government and hit the ground running on day one.
"With the foundation the governor has laid in year one, we should expect more. He has a vision for the development of the state, and I am sure the coming years will be action-packed," he said.
Also the State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Prince Gara Nongha, said Governor Kefas has within one year created mind-blowing reforms in virtually every sector in the state, which has made the people regain hope and confidence that a new Taraba is possible.
"We have seen job creation through the employment of thousands youths and women in the daily cleaning of the state.
On his part, the Ter-Tiv Taraba, Zaki David Gbaa, said the procurement of 750 new global multi-purpose mini tractors and 100 sets of Cabrio compact tractors, accessories, tools, and spare parts for small and medium-scale farmers in Taraba state was great step in agricultural modernization in the state.
"The governor has started very well. Most of us in Taraba are farmers and the signing of an agreement with an international company; Knight A. S from the Czech Republic, for the supply of 750 new global multi-purpose mini tractors and 100 sets of Cabrio compact tractors, accessories, tools, and spare parts for small and medium-scale farmers in the state is highly commendable.
"Governor of Taraba state, Dr Agbu Kefas recently approved the sum of one billion naira for the payment of gratuity backlog and also approved that a sum of 200 million be set aside each month to offset the backlog and continue the payments. We are told that the governor has directed the payment of monthly running costs to ministries and has released over N71 million for enrollment of all local government staff and teachers that were not enrolled in the pension scheme. This will make the ministry run smoothly and the local government retirees who feel abandoned to have a sense of belonging."
Another resident, Alhaji Umar Aminu said the performance of Governor Kefas has impressed majority of the people of the state.
"We might not be having 100 percent of good governance but you can feel that the people are benefiting from governance than what we used to have before in Taraba State, under Governor Kefas the people are fairly happy, salary is paid as at when due, government is making policies that benefit the majority of the people, civil servants in the state are beginning to work in more better environment because operation costs are released to Ministries and agencies of government, Governor Kefas has uplifted Taraba state in the last one year."
According to Mrs Iliya Martha "Governor AgbuKefas, is a dream come true to Taraba state, he has provided free education, people that were not going to school are now going to school, in my area Donga alot of children are now going to school, and paid gratuities of pensioners, even if you insult governor Kefas today it will not do anything to him because we have seen his impact. I will vote for governor Agbu Kefas in 2027, because I have seen what he has done within just one year".
Also Governor Agbu Kefas remodeled, installed, and commissioned the rural electrification project in Gembu headquarters of the Sardauna local government area of the state after 20 years, saying electricity in the area will open up more doors for progress and development.
They said Governor Kefas has focused on completing many abandoned projects initiated by previous administration , because of his interest in delivering dividends of good governance to the people of Taraba state.
Part of the abandoned projects which has received life under the administration includes: a renovated State Liaison Office in Abuja which was abandoned due to debts owed to a contractor nine years ago, Governor Agbu Kefas has taken over the property after paying off the contractor.
Also the completion of the Tsokundi road; Yerima to Gassol; Lot 3 project of Kurmi Marraraba-Baissa-Abong road are all getting attention of the state government.
Governor Kefas also embarked on total reconstruction of the School of Nursing and Midwifery Jalingo. The project was abandoned for several years by previous administrations after sinking billions of naira.
Apart from these, the administration has embarked on massive renovation of both primary and secondary schools across the state as part of its efforts to address the problem of infrastructure in government-owned schools across the state.
In Ussa Local Government, the Coordinator of the Kuteb Peace Movements, Chief Danladi Rimandesaid the Governor has reconstructed the abandoned Ussa General Hospital Lisam to the admiration of not only the people of Ussa Local Government but the entire Kuteb Nation.
President Southern Taraba Youth Coalition for Peace STYCOP Amb Rikwense Muri said Taraba has a Governor who doesn't care whether you vote him or not, but care about his campaign promise to the people.
"The General Hospital Lissam Construction started during the administration of Late Pharm DanbabaSuntai, but work stopped when Alh Garba Umar UTC was removed as Acting Governor. The DDI Rescue administration abandoned the project despite budgeting and appropriating large sums of money for it. This left the hospital abandoned, along with the dilapidated Ussa-Takum Road and Banditry, causing many deaths without any intervention from the state government.
"The people protested against the PDP administration by voting for APC in 2023 general election. Col Agbu Kefas promised to change the narrative if God grant him victory, despite losing Ussa LGA at the poll, he has kept his promise and has quietly completed the abandoned Hospital and has put in measures to construct the abandoned road that has been abandoned since 1999.
"Dr. Agbu Kefas is a blessing to the people of Taraba state for what he is doing all over the state. He is completing abandoned projects. His approach to governance is worth applauding, and there is a need for sustainability of this approach to government and governance." Muri said.
Also, Governor Agbu Kefas has released funds to complete the 5 million-litre water storage facility project in Jalingo, a government officials has said.
Commissioner Water Management and Aquatic Affairs Mr Daniel Ishaku said that the project will be completed by the end of August this year because that the governor has provided resources needed for the project to be completed without hitches.
Speaking at while inspecting the Jalingo Primary Water Scheme on Mount Jalingo and the Raw Water Station riverside Sabon-gari, Mr Daniel Ishaku said the project would be completed before the end of the year.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry Godfrey Dame Andrew, the commissioner
applauded Governor Kefas for his commitment towards the completion of the water project.
Also speaking at the inspection Director General Bureau of public procurement Asimbo Tanko Shamaki noted that the role of his ministry is to monitor, regulate and evaluate the process of handling the project from inception to completion.
He said with the level of work that has already been completed he is confident that water will be provided soon.
Leading the inspection at the primary water project the project manager Eric Edegbai assured the f his company's commitment to finish the project at the stipulated time.
He also called on people in the communities to give them the support needed to complete project.
The Jalingo Primary Water Scheme is expected to increase supply of water in Jalingo from 8 million litres to 28 million litres per day.
Former Governor Darius Ishaku had commissioned the Jalingo water project, which was started in 2017 but yet to be fully completed when he was leaving office.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, he said the project was officially launched in 2017 in line with the promise he made on May 29, 2015. He explained that the project was part of his effort to address the problems of water supply and sanitation, and "strategic infrastructure, using leverage from development partners and engaging public-private-partnership (PPP) options, to enhance this pursuit."
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