Digitizing Taraba’s Landscape: How DG Ma’aku is Transforming TAGIS Under Governor Kefas
By Henry Agbu
When Governor Agbu Kefas assumed office, he made a bold promise to modernize governance across Taraba State. One of the most striking examples of that promise in action is the transformation taking place at the Taraba Geographic Information Service (TAGIS) under the leadership of the Director General, Mark Joshua Ma’aku.
Mark Joshua Ma’aku
From a relatively obscure agency, TAGIS has risen to become a model of digital excellence and revenue generation, reshaping the way land is administered in the state.
Governor Kefas’ vision for a digitally driven, transparent, and investor-friendly Taraba found a perfect match in Maaku, a trained surveyor and technocrat with a deep understanding of geospatial systems. His appointment as DG TAGIS marked the beginning of a quiet revolution—one driven not by noise, but by results.
“We knew we needed to digitize not just for efficiency, but for integrity,” Maaku says, speaking in his characteristically calm tone. “We wanted to reduce human error and remove bottlenecks.”
One of Maaku’s first moves was launching a comprehensive digitization of land records. TAGIS developed a centralized digital land registry, allowing citizens and investors to access information about land ownership, boundaries, and usage from anywhere.
This innovation didn’t just improve efficiency—it drastically reduced land disputes and cases of multiple allocations.
For the first time, the state had a Geographic Information System (GIS) that could map, track, and manage land data in real-time.
Gone are the days of dusty files and endless waiting lines. Under Maaku’s direction, TAGIS introduced an e-land portal, enabling online applications for Certificates of Occupancy, land titles, and building approvals. Turnaround time has been cut in half, and the process is more transparent than ever.
Applicants receive SMS alerts, can track the status of their applications online, and are guided through every step of the process.
Perhaps the most quantifiable achievement is the boost in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). TAGIS has become one of the leading revenue-generating agencies in Taraba State.
With more people trusting the process and formalizing their land ownership, revenues from land transactions, registrations, and permits have soared. “We’re not just managing land,” Maaku notes. “We’re unlocking its economic value.
Understanding that systems are only as strong as the people behind them, Maaku has prioritized training and capacity-building. Staff are routinely trained in digital mapping, customer service, and GIS operations. This forward-looking approach ensures that the reforms are sustainable and future-ready.
TAGIS under Maaku has also deepened its collaboration with the Ministry of Urban Planning, Local Governments, and even the private sector. By integrating land data with development planning, the agency has helped streamline infrastructure projects and urban expansion initiatives.
The transformation at TAGIS is just one chapter in Governor Agbu Kefas’ broader drive to modernize Taraba State. But it is an especially important one. With land administration now streamlined, transparent, and digital, the doors are wide open for real estate investment, urban renewal, and rural development.
“In TAGIS, we see the future of government service in Taraba—efficient, professional, and digital,” a local property developer remarked. “It’s a different era.”
Mark Joshua Maaku’s leadership at TAGIS exemplifies what happens when vision meets competence. Under the watchful eye of Governor Kefas, TAGIS is no longer just a bureaucratic office—it’s a hub of innovation, growth, and trust.
For a state as rich in land as Taraba, that transformation is nothing short of groundbreaking.
