Excitement as Gov Kefas begins mass infrastructural development in Taraba
Excitement as Gov Kefas begins mass infrastructural development in Taraba
By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has commenced massive road construction and other infrastructural development across Taraba State in fulfilment of his campaign promises and recent engagement with stakeholders across the Three Senatorial districts in the State, stiring wide excitement and hope.
The Governor has been criticised for not constructing roads in his first Two years in office.
However the governor has awarded several road projects that are strategic to movement across the state especially for the predominant farmers.
Recently, the Governor flagged off the construction of the Wukari Township Road Network alongside the Takum Junction Flyover Bridge, the construction of the Wukari-Chinkai road, in Wukari Local Government Area as well as Lisam Road in Ussa Local Government Area and the State.
This is coming after the Governor awarded contracts for some other major projects such as Mararaba–Baissa–Abong Road Project, 35km Pamanga–Dakka Road, 20km Mararaba–Yorro–Pantisawa Road, among others.
Also notably is the mass construction of Jalingo township streets and roads such as the NUJ Press Centre road that houses the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Nurses House and other businesses.
The Mararaban/Baisa/Abong road is one of the most strategic roads in the State. The road provide an easy route to the Nigerian border with Cameroon and leads to Kurmi, one of the most naturally endowed Local Government areas in the State.
However, the road has been in a pathetic state of negligence for several decades making it extremely difficult for people to access the area.
Kurmi boast of some of the best and cheapest palm oil in the country, vast cocoa orchards, abundant plantain and bananas, timber and well as numerous other resources. The exceptionally fertile soil makes farming a lucrative venture, hindered only by lack of access road. And so the construction of the road will open nearly limitless opportunities for investors and will give a spike in IGR for the State government.
Another key project awarded is the 35km Pamanga–Dakka Road, awarded to Gelead Construction Company Limited with ₦5bn released to the contractor. Dakka is the home to the famous late MKO Abiola farms that have been largely abandoned over the years.
Dakka is also one of the major agrarian areas in the State where nearly all crops thrive due to very fertile and vast land. Conveying harvests out of Dakka has been a major problem due to the terrible state of the road.
The Governor has also awarded the 20km Mararaba–Yorro–Pantisawa Road project to Wasany Construction Company and has released ₦5bn for the project.
The road, off Jalingo-Zing road, is the only major road linking the rather remote Yorro Local Government area to the rest of the State. However, the road has suffered serious neglect over the decades and it’s completion will have tremendous impact on the lives of the people and will largely aid movement of farm produce to markets beyond the local communities there and prevent massive wastages.
Other road projects awarded are the Yerima–Gassol 24 km Road awarded to Whize China Engineering Construction with ₦5bn released to the contractors, and the 35 km Wukari–Kente–Chinkai Road awarded to Moulds Nigeria Limited with ₦5bn released for commencement of work. The road provides an alternative and shorter route to people traveling to neighboring states like Nassarawa, Plateau and others. Others include the 12km Takum–Ussa Road awarded to Whize Chana Engineering Construction, with about ₦1bn released.p
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In addition to these major road projects, the governor approved over ₦1.9 billion for the palliative repair of potholes along Wukari–Tella–Mutum Biyu and Bali–Mararaba/Baissa roads.
While these massive infrastructural revolution excited residents, some people are skeptical about the seriousness of the State government to go through with the projects to the end and not just use them for campaign.
A motorist, Alhaji Inuwa Magaji told our Correspondent that he hopes the governor completes the roads but experience has shown that this is just a campaign ploy.
“If you have Four years and you couldn’t do anything for more than Two Years, is it the remaining few months that you will use to do what you are supposed to have done in Four years? For me, I am happy that at least he is doing something but I am not so optimistic. I think it is just a campaign ploy”.
The general feeling from residents, however, that of excitement that the governor has listened to the yearnings and criticisms of the people and has begun bringing dividends of democracy closer to the ordinary man.
