2025 Budget: Focus On Agriculture, Southern Taraba Stakeholders Tell Gov Kefas
By Lynn Adda
Stakeholders in the Southern Part of Taraba State have urged the Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas to give priority attention to the Agricultural sector in view of the fact that the majority of the people are farmers.
This is part of the key community needs presented at the one day Citizens Engagement and Stakeholders Consultative Forum on the 2025 Budget.
The Consultative Forum was organized by the Taraba State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Taraba State.
The Forum stressed that this is necessary because of the economic viability of agriculture.
To reduce social vices among the youths, the Stakeholders called for the promotion of sporting activities including the construction of a mini Stadium.
On culture, the Forum called for the preservation of the Cultural Heritage for the purpose of attracting tourists to the zone.
This should include the fencing of Puje and Modernization of the historical crocodile’s pond in next year’s budget.
One of the key problems of Wukari town has been that of portable drinking water. The Forum therefore called for the revamping of the Ibi/Wukari Water supply scheme as part of the projects to be included in the 2025 budget.
To ensure self sufficiency and less dependent on government, the Southern Stakeholders stressed the need for the inclusion of the Family Support Program Skills Acquisition Centre located in the Wukari old Market in the budget to train youths and women as there are no enough white collar jobs anywhere.
To ensure stable and constant power supply in the zone, the Forum called for the provision of more transformers and Poles in Wukari, Donga, Takum and Ibi Local Government Areas to boost economic activities.
In the area of health care delivery services, they called for the building of a Cottage Hospital in Donga Local Government Area.
The Marraba-Baissa-Abong road equally caught the attention of the Southern Stakeholders who stressed the need for the project to be captured in the budget.
Considering the high number of Cassava farmers in the zone, the Consultative Forum called on the government to establish Cassava Processing Mills for the production , processing, preservation and packaging of Garri, Sugar and Milk for local consumption and export.
To become relevant in the evolving world of information and communication technology, the Forum called for the building and equipping of ICT CBT centers to train youths and students computer literacy.
Keynote contributors in the Southern Zone who provided community inputs include a one time Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Dr Samuel Danjuma Gani, a former Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Barrister Danjuma Adamu Anyeze, Mr I. Saigudu, a Permanent Secretary, Rev. Isaiah Jirapye, President of CRCN of Nigeria and Chairman of CAN Taraba State Chapter, the Chairman of Wukari LGA, Hon Dauda Agbu Samaila, Hon Ezra Voka, Chairman of Donga LGA, Hon. Tijani Sale Angyu, former Vice Chairman of Wukari, LGA, Hon Mohammed Iliya Ajibu, Chairman of Ibi LGA represented by the Leader of the Legislative Council and the Aku Uka, Dr. Ishaku Adda Ali Matakhitswen, Chairman Taraba State Council of Traditional Rulers among others.
The one day event which was held at the Patience Event Center in Wukari was also attended by some traditional leaders, representatives of youth organizations and religious groups among others.
