Governor Agbu Kefas Delivers on Promises: Massive Road Projects Transform Taraba
By Andrew Ojih
Governor Dr Agbu Kefas has fulfilled his October promise and launching a statewide road construction initiative that is set to redefine infrastructure and connectivity in Taraba State.
Andrew Ojih in this piece examined how the governor kept to his promises by embarking on massive road constructions across Taraba State.
Governor Agbu Kefas who since his assumption of office two years ago was seen to have performed bellow expectations, on the 23rd of September, 2025 while having a town hall meeting with stakeholders from the Southern Central and Northern Senatorial Zones of Taraba state, surprised Tarabans and announced his plan to commence massive infrastructural development at the onset of the dry season in October this year.
Many Tarabans dismissed the announcement with a wave of hands, believing that it is the Governor’s usual antics of promise and fail.
He was widely criticised for not constructing roads in his first Two years in office as even his own party men lamented over Poor performance.
Some stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba state before his plan to defect from the PDP to the APC lamented that they face daily mockery from other opposition parties over the poor performance of the administration.
A PDP stakeholders from Barde ward in Jalingo local government area, Alhaji Aljazi Jalingo while speaking to journalists in Jalingo, warned that if the PDP led administration under governor Kefas continued with his poor performance, the APC or any other political party may clinch the seat of power come 2027 in the state.
“Let me tell you, I have been in PDP since 1999, I have never changed to any other party, but with my age and my position in the PDP, I can’t continue to cue behind those who knew that Kefas performance is poor and continue singing praises to him.
It is time to let him know to wake up, all is not well with the government of Kefas, his surrounded by sycophants that don’t tell him the truth but wish him to fail” he said.
He stressed that the governor for over two years of his administration has not initiated nor construct even a three kilometer road in the state.
“Like my area where I leave here in Jalingo, members of other political parties mock me everyday, they question my continued quest to remain in the PDP knowing fully well that governor Kefss is not performing” he explained
But Kefas who during the meeting expressed worry that lack of Master plan for the State made it difficult for him to take off and greatly delayed his development strides, said he was a deliberate person and prefers to do things that will stand the test of time.
Kefas who since assumption Office as the number citizen of the state focused on security and education which he tackled them head-on, and also was able to mop up the children from the streets through the free education policy in the state.
He equally begins building of new schools and improvement of infrastructure on the existing schools across the state.
Kefas who told Tarabans that the state now have a new Master plan no doubt commenced real infrastructural development and that his administration has laid the foundation that subsequent Governments will just have to build on it.
Kefas in fulfilling his October promise embarked on massive road constructions among others projects by mobilising contractors back to Site in Mararaba–Baissa–Abong Road, divided into three lots of 28 kilometres each and awarded respectively to CGC Nigeria Limited, CCECC Nigeria Limited, and China Zhanghao, with ₦5 billion released per lot.
This axis has long represented one of the most economically strategic but physically neglected parts of the state.
The project is intended to open up Baissa’s vast agricultural belt, improve logistics for trade, and reduce travel time for rural populations who have endured years of limited access.
The same principle of balanced development applies to the Pamanga–Dakka Road (35 km, ₦5 billion), the Mararaba–Yorro–Pantisawa Road (20 km, ₦5 billion), the Yerima–Gassol Road (24 km, ₦5 billion), and the Wukari–Kente–Chinkai Road (35 km, ₦5 billion). Each of these routes connects productive communities to the state’s commercial centres. The Takum–Ussa Road (12 km, ₦1 billion) represents another deliberate intervention to improve mobility in the southern corridor.
In addition, the Governor approved ₦1.9 billion for palliative repairs and township upgrades, covering pothole rehabilitation along the Wukari–Tella–Mutum Biyu and Bali–Mararaba/Baissa roads, as well as improvements to township roads in Jalingo and Wukari.
This effort ensures that while large projects are ongoing, existing routes remain passable and functional for residents and businesses.
The contract signing agreements of the road projects which took place at the office of the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Moseh Luka, in Jalingo, marks another milestone in Governor Agbu Kefas’s ongoing drive to expand infrastructure and improve transportation across the state.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Hon. Luka explained that the road projects forms part of Governor Kefas’s strategic development initiative aimed at addressing transportation challenges and boosting economic activities within the southern zone of the state.
He said that the signing of the contract demonstrates the governor’s resilience and commitment to fulfilling promises made to the people of Taraba.
On his part, the Chairman of Moulds Construction Nigeria Limited, Engr. Samuel Oyatemi, pledged to deliver quality work in line with the contract specifications.
Speaking recently at the harlow chamber of the Taraba state House of Assembly, the Deputy speaker of the House, Rt Hon Hamman Adama Ibinlla who is representing the good people of Bali 1 state constituency at the house disclosed that governor Agbu Kefas released the sum of 15 billion naira for the construction of Bali General Hospital, completion of Bali Dakka Pamanga Road and the Government lodge.
He added that governor Kefas has done well for people of Bali, stressing that he has touched every nooks and crannies of the state.
“Our road linking Pamanga Dakka was abandoned for years, but within short time of his administration, he graciously approved fifteen billion for the completion of the road, construction of our general hospital and government lodge” he said.
He hinted that the Governor deserve second term, adding that his administration brought insecurity, kidnapping among others to its knees.
“As at three years ago, you dare not pass through Dakka Pamanga Road, kidnapping was everywhere, people were afraid of being killed or kidnapped.
“But today, he brought both kidnapping and farmers herders crisis to an end. ” he added,
“Governor Kefas has performed above average within the present circumstances and we as representatives of the people are happy” he stressed.
Applauding governor Kefas, the second class chief of Dakka, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ali Yusuf Ganwari thanked the Governor for releasing funds to contractors to resume work on the Pamanga-Dakka road.
“This road project is everything to us here because with this road, every development can come to this our community.
“We have nothing to say rather than to thank Almighty Allah for giving us Dr Agbu Kefas as Governor of Taraba state, we pray to God to guide and protect him as he took upon himself to genuinely serve us people” the royal father added.
He stressed that Tarabans have seen what the governor had done at this first tenure of his administration, nothing that he deserve to be reelected for another term.
On his part, the council chairman of Kurmi Local Government Areas of Taraba State, Hon Moses Maihankali lauded governor Kefas Agbu for mobilising contractors back to Kurmi road.
Gov Agbu Kefas
He noted that the top most priority of the good people of Kurmi is the road project, adding that good road network would create windows for businesses to thrive.
“When you look at Kurmi LGA, you see that the place has a lot of abundant natural resources, Kurmi is the third richest Local Government Area and forth largest in Nigeria by landmarks.
“We are indeed very very happy with governor Agbu Kefas to have listened to us as people by addressing the very issue that affect us most in this Local Government ” he informed.
He hinted that the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas has performed very well and the people of Kurmi LGA have scored him high.
“The governor has shown us love, he gave us numerous appointments and addressed security issues among others in Taraba state.
“If someone has done well, the only thing you will do is to say thank you to that person, we as people who appreciate good gestures will reward him in 2027 by voting for him massively. Our blog votes belong to him” the chairman said.
In same vein, motorists along Wukari-Chinkai road commended Governor Kefas for awarding the construction of the road.
A motorists, Samaila Zailani described it as a great relief the award of the contract and groundbreaking for the construction of the Wukari Chinkai road abandoned after over 20 years.
He noted that commuters and motorists can now heave a sigh of relief with the award for the construction of the road.
“We appreciate governor Kefas Agbu that after many years of negligence, the governor finally awarded this road to ease our suffering” he added.
Thousands of Tarabans have at different levels congratulated Governor Kefas over his numerous achievements within two years of his administration.
Journalists who visited the ongoing road projects across the state expressed satisfaction that what distinguished these interventions is not only their scale but their strategy by engaging multiple reputable construction firms, the administration has spread both responsibility and efficiency.
They agued that the release of funds reflects a transparent financing approach that guarantees continuity and accountability that each project is designed to feed into a broader development architecture where improved access will stimulate local production, attract private investment, and strengthen inter-community trade.
Key political pundits who have been watching trends of things in the state with keen interest, said other states of the federation should emulate governor Kefas style of leadership to achieve the desired dividend of democracy in their respective states.
They believed that Kefas achievements goes beyond the decongesting water, they described him as a man of proven integrity, who has made Tarabans, Nigeria and indeed entire Africa proud by providing infrastructures for the citizens.
The governor guided by the three indicators which are Economic, Social and Cross-cutting sectors as the basis for his development trajectory, he got into action churning out remarkable achievements within two years in office.
According to them, there is no denying the fact that governor Kefas is a rare breed politician, patriot and a true democrat. They argued that his political efforts and strategies, the politics for which the state was noted now dominates the realm.
They agued that the accounts of modern Taraba political evolution would not be complete without ample recognition of the roles of this selfless political leader in Taraba State.
They said that in the course of achieving all of these for the common people of Taraba State, many have described Kefas as over-bearing and brooks no criticism, but then, any leader aspiring to achieve success and push through his vision of an Utopian state for his people cannot but be over-bearing, or else he would not achieve success at the end of the day.
They believe that his over-bearing attitude, his close aides would confirm, was unlike that of some other leaders and occupiers of plum and top political offices, like his counterparts in other states, who simply employ intimidation and brute force as instruments to subdue critics and opponents.
They argued that one of the factors that helped governor Kefas to achieve this much success within two years of his administration was his uncanny ability to recognise talents and hardworking professionals that he can leverage on their expertise to achieve a desired end.
This explains why many aides and cabinet members of his administration have remained with him this long since assumption of office.
They believed that no man is a saint and Governor Kefas obviously would have his own share of shortcomings like every other human being, but he deserve to be accorded recognition and can be aptly described as one of the very few governors in Nigeria, who ‘came, saw and conquered.
They believed that this scorecard is an indication that the Kefas administration has done credibly well for Tarabans and indeed means business to change fortunes of Taraba State.
