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 on Thursday in Jalingo during the celebration of Taraba State’s 35th anniversary and……
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 on Thursday in Jalingo during the celebration of Taraba State’s 35th anniversary and the unveiling of the Taraba Regional Development Master Plan.
Idris, who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s greetings to the government and people of the state, described the master plan as an important framework for achieving sustainable development.
He commended Governor Agbu Kefas for adopting a long-term development blueprint but stressed that its success would depend on effective implementation and its impact on 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,” the minister said.
Idris described Taraba as one of Nigeria’s promising economic frontiers, citing its opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing, livestock, hydropower, tourism, manufacturing and mineral development.
He also commended the Kefas administration for its investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, security and economic development.
According to a statement by the Ministers Special Assistant (Media), Rabiu Ibrahim, on Thursday, the state’s free and compulsory primary and secondary education policy, alongside the provision of more than N1.8 billion in 2026 for NECO, BECE and NABTEB examination fees for public-school students, demonstrated its commitment to human capital development.
The minister further highlighted about $268 million 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 plant in Jalingo.
He said such investments were critical to converting Taraba’s natural resources into production, employment and sustainable economic growth.
Idris said the Federal Government was complementing the state’s development efforts through major road projects, including the Gembu–Mbamnga–Yang (Lip) Road, Bali–Serti–Gashaka–Gembu Road and interventions along the Jalingo–Mutum Biyu–Tella–Wukari corridor.
“These are more than roads. They are investments in connectivity, trade, tourism, agriculture, security and the movement of people and goods,” he said.
On security, Idris said the Federal Government was pursuing reforms towards the establishment of state police to bring policing closer to communities while ensuring professionalism and accountability.
He said the initiative could particularly benefit Taraba, given its vast terrain and dispersed border communities where local intelligence and rapid response were important.
The minister also cited the establishment of the Nigerian Army’s 10 Division, headquartered in Jalingo and responsible for operations in Taraba and Adamawa states, as part of efforts to strengthen 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,” Idris said.
He also defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, saying the removal of petrol subsidy had generated N15.8 trillion in additional resources for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025.
Idris said about N5.4 trillion accrued to the Federal Government, while approximately N10.4 trillion went to state and local governments for development purposes.
He said the government would not return to the previous subsidy regime but would instead focus on consolidating the reforms, protecting vulnerable Nigerians and ensuring that increased public revenue translates into tangible benefits.
The minister also pledged closer collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the Taraba State Ministry of Information and Re-Orientation to promote public understanding and ownership of the master plan.
“The vision contained in this Master Plan must go beyond government offices. It must reach the farmer, the entrepreneur, the student, the trader and communities across Taraba, because a plan for Taraba must ultimately be a plan owned by the people of Taraba,” he said.
Earlier, Governor Kefas called for continuity in governance, saying the development of the state should build on the contributions of previous administrations.
“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.
Kefas said his administration would complete worthy projects, correct areas requiring attention and open new frontiers for future generations.
He also urged former leaders to continue contributing their experience and institutional knowledge to the peace, unity and development of the state.
The minister congratulated Taraba on its 35th anniversary, describing the occasion as an opportunity to celebrate the state’s history while renewing 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,” Idris said.
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