Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has disclosed that the state has operated without a formal development master plan since its creation in 1991, a situation he said has hampered coordinated growth across the state for decades.

Speaking at a town hall meeting with stakeholders from the Northern Zone in Jalingo, the state capital, Kefas said the only planning document he could find was an incomplete city plan initiated by the late Governor Danbaba Suntai. “I had to engage consultants to develop a comprehensive state-wide master plan, which took us nine months,” he stated.

The governor used the forum to reflect on the challenges inherited from previous administrations, including deep ethnic and religious divisions. “When I came in, we were all divided. It was very difficult to trust each other,” he said. “But with prayers and commitment, we are making progress toward unity.”

Kefas credited traditional rulers, youth groups, women, and security agencies for their support in promoting stability, emphasising that peace and unity are central to the state’s developmental agenda. Highlighting Taraba’s strategic location bordering six Nigerian states and Cameroon, he noted that security requires long-term planning. “Security in this state demands a massive, coordinated plan. But we are setting the pace to ensure lasting peace even after I leave office,” he said.

On education, the governor recalled declaring a state of emergency to tackle the high number of out-of-school children. “I want to get every child back to school. That’s why we introduced free education to ease the burden on parents,” he said, citing a primary school with 364 pupils, only nine classrooms, and two teachers as indicative of the sector’s challenges.

Kefas also detailed efforts to revive the state’s health sector, which he described as nearly collapsed before his tenure. “The last time I visited the Specialist Hospital, I confirmed that patients had to buy medicine from nurses’ bags. We’ve changed that. Essential drugs are now stocked and provided free,” he said.

Infrastructure challenges remain a priority. The governor described many roads as inaccessible, preventing farmers from transporting produce. He pledged urgent rehabilitation starting in October and highlighted the completion of the Jalingo Airport runway reconstruction at a cost of ₦24 billion. “Today, we can proudly invite anyone to fly into Taraba. The Jalingo Airport is ready,” he said.

Kefas also revealed he has not moved into the official governor’s residence, opting instead to prioritize essential services and staff welfare, including clearing salary arrears and pension backlogs. He called on citizens to actively participate in identifying development priorities. “I am here to listen, not just talk. Let’s work together to identify urgent infrastructure needs,” he said. “The resources are limited, but with unity and trust, we can do more.”