Taraba

By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo

JALINGO – Over 50,000 members of the Blind People Association in Taraba State have resolved to boycott the planned nationwide protest scheduled to start on Thursday.

State Chairman of the association Mr Wanderimam Teyang disclose this on Wednesday in a statement issued in Jalingo.

Teyang said that the State government has shown serious commitment to development and it will be a major distraction if the people of the State join the protest that could potentially degenerate into total chaos and anarchy.

“Gentlemen of the Press, I call you today to address a serious issue that is bothering all of us. You are all aware of the planned nationwide protest that is expected to start tomorrow. I understand and agree absolutely that Nigerians have every reason to protest peacefully and register their grievances.

“However, for us in Taraba, I think this protest will be a needless distraction because of the giant strides of His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, the Governor of Taraba State and his moving forward agenda.

“The Governor has performed creditably well and has touched the lives of our members through various welfare packages, scholarships, free education, appointments, training in various entrepreneurship programmes for people living with disabilities etc.

“By this press release, I want to inform you that all members of this association in all the 16 Local Government areas of the state have resolved and are urged to stay at home and pray for His Excellency to achieve more success in his administration and not to participate in any protest.

“We want to use this medium to thank the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Social Justice and Reintegration for the good work she is doing in her ministry” Teyang said.

By Sylvanus Viashima

JALINGO – The Taraba Concern Citizens (TCC), a pressure group operating in Taraba has accused the chairman Taraba state Special Taskforce on Illegal Mining and Deforestation Brigadier General Jeremiah Faransa (Rtd) of destroying the states owned mining equipment worth Billions of Naira at Akwana community in Wukari local government area of Taraba State.

The Coordinator, TCC Comrade Emos Tijani call on Governor Kefas to come out clear to inform the people of the state why a Taskforce established by his government would destroy equipment worth Billions of Naira which was procured by the same government.

Governor Agbu Kefas had procured mining equipment worth Billions through the State Bureau for Solid Mineral Resources for mining activities.

However, the Faransa led Taskforce last burnt two brand new Excavators, Soundproof Micano Generators, Detecting Machines, motorcycles and other mining equipment at the mining site located at Benue Taraba bolder in Akwana community in Wukari local government area of the State.

Faransa, according a source who was at the mining site during the destruction claimed the equipment belong to illegal Miners who always hide to harness mineral resources in the state.

The Coordinator, TCC Comrade Emos Tijani while addressing journalists in Jalingo, on Monday allege that there are discrepancies leading to the burning of the mining equipment. He stated that “it is still not clear why a Taskforce that was set up by the governor would destroy the state owned properties of such magnitude?”

Tijani urged the state Governor Kefas to urgently provide detail information on why there was a communication gap between the state government and the Taskforce that led to the incident.

“We the concern citizens are still confused of what led to the destruction of the mining equipment, is it that the Faransa led Taskforce is in disagreement with the state government? Or, is it that the governor and his government are also engaged in illegal mining activities that the equipment worth Billions of Naira were destroyed at this time that there is economic hardship? We demand to know” Tijani said.

The Permanent Secretary, Taraba State Bureau for Solid Mineral Resources, Matsai David confirm that he conveyed the mining equipment procured by the Bureau to Akwana in Wukari on the directives of the Governor.

“I conveyed the mining equipment to Wukari on the directive of the governor, am not answerable to the Taskforce, when the governor comes back from the trip, I will give my explanation on the situation, for now, I reserve my comment” David disclosed when contacted over the incident.

By Sylvanus Viashima

JALINGO – Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas on Tuesday said that his administration is channelling development to the rural areas to tackle years of neglect that has resulted in huge infrastructural deficit where majority of the people live.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Digital Communication Hon. Emmanuel Bello disclosed this in an interview with our Correspondent in Jalingo.

Bello said that apart from direct projects undertaken by the State government in various communities across the State, the State government is partnering with other development partners through projects such as ACRESAL to ensure that the people residing in the rural areas also have a sense of belonging.

He disclosed that some of the thematic areas of interventions in rural areas include provision of safe drinking water, provision of quality health care, provision of free and compulsory education for all as well as rural electrification among several others.

“When we came on board, we noticed that there was a huge infrastructural deficit at the rural areas. Since I already had it in mind to make sure that my projects are people centred, we developed a template that will ensure that we focus development to bridge this gap.

“One year down the lane, I can tell you that we have made remarkable impact and the people are already feeling the effects in the key areas of interventions.

“As we speak, we have deployed ambulances to each and every ward in the State. This is the first time almost every community now has access to an ambulance. We are also revamping the Primary Health Care facilities by staffing them with competent hands and equipping them appropriately.

“Massive water projects are also either completed or ongoing in most communities across the State with bias for the rural areas. This is because we discovered that in most villages, people were drinking from ponds with animals. Of course you know the health implications.

“I don’t need to remind you that our free education policy is a major relief to our people especially the poor and downtrodden. It will surprise you that most children at the rural areas were out of school because their parents either couldn’t afford it or felt it wasn’t necessary. Now, education is not only free but compulsory. So parents have an obligation to ensure that every child goes to school.

“Another area is security. We are collaborating with key stakeholders in all the communities to ensure that the people stay in relative safety. Already we have made tremendous progress and are not relenting. Consequent upon this, most farmers are able to return to their farms to tackle the issue of food shortages that we are suffering.

“We have also distribution fertiliser and other farm inputs as well as tractors to farmers. What makes the difference here is that, unlike in the past when such distributions were mere formalities, we ensured that these items got to the those they are meant. We are also monitoring closely to ensure that any who tries to divert anything is apprehended and dealt with” he said.

Bello, speaking for the government warns that the administration has zero tolerance for sabotage and will not hesitate to wield the big hammer on anyone who tries to frustrate efforts of the government to ameliorate the suffering of the people and create a favorable environment individuals to harness their potentials wherever they are in the state.

By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo

Over 160 staff of Taraba State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology Jalingo, who were employed in 2022, have cried out to governor Agbu Kefas to commence payment of their salaries.

The college staff who spoke on ground of anonymity appealed that 21 months after they were employed and assigned to different departments of the school, they have not received salary for one month.

“We want to let our father, governor Agbu Kefas know that since 2022 that we were employed as staff of Taraba state college of Agriculture, science and technology Jalingo, we have not received any salary. We are appealing that Kefas as a father and a man of God who has shown love for the civil savants, introducing ideas that would redefine the civil service of Taraba for better, should please commence our payment to ease our suffering.

“We are not protesting. We are only crying to the the governor to consider us. We want to believe that the governor who has so much passion for Education, and has demonstrated kind interest in developing the education sector of Taraba State, which the college of Agriculture, science and technology is inclusive, is not aware of what is happening to us. He is an action governor who is working round the clock to ensure Taraba is great so, we believe that he has not been properly brief about our case and suffering.

“Just as Kefas is passionate about education, we want to inform His. Excellency that we are committed to delivering the desire quality services and ensure that his name is written in gold.

“We want to let our governor know that after one year of our employment without salaries, we made series of efforts to the relevant authorities to ensure the commencement of our salaries but all proved abortive.

“Many of us who have family members that are depending solely on us, working for close to two years without salary as well as the present hardship in Nigeria, the situation is becoming overwhelming to bear. We want the working governor to come to our rescue” The college staff beg.

When contacted, Mr. Tino Paul Maigida the Head of civil service Taraba state said, governor Kefas is going to look into the matter soon.

“The Governor asked me to see him with their memo when he comes back” Maigida said.