By Yusuf Salihu Sansani, Jalingo
A coalition of legal consultants, solicitors, human rights activists, and members of Amnesty International in Jalingo has urged Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, to constitute a high-powered investigative committee to probe projects reportedly executed in the state by the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) at a cost of ₦26.8 billion.
In a letter signed by Isa Buba, Esq., the group noted that during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government, through the NEDC, budgeted billions of naira for the execution of various projects across Taraba State.
The letter listed some of the projects, including:
Construction of 160 mass housing units in Jalingo (₦776.3m)
Construction of blocks of classrooms in Baisa, Jalingo, and Wukari (₦410.7m each)
Secondary school classroom blocks in Jalingo, Baissa, and Wukari (₦403m each)
340 housing units across 16 LGAs, including Wukari, Zing, Bali, Takum, and Sardauna (₦1.6bn)
Construction of Mayo Ndaga Bridge, Phase II (₦95.2m)
Administrative blocks, staff quarters, and related buildings in Baissa, Jalingo, and Wukari (₦284m each)
Birama Primary School, Takum (₦800m)
Construction of nursery sites and infrastructure (₦35.1bn)
Lau–Karim Lamido Road (₦6.2bn)
Rural roads and drainage projects (₦500m)
Mayo Ndaga Bridge, Phase I (₦106.9m)
Virology Laboratory at FMC Jalingo (₦95.5m)
Borehole drilling, rehabilitation of health centres, and supply of desks in Ussa and other LGAs.
Despite these claims, the lawyers alleged that over 80 percent of the projects were either abandoned or never executed, citing findings from local communities.
They therefore called on Governor Kefas to establish a fact-finding committee to tour all 16 LGAs of the state to verify the NEDC’s claims.
The legal team assured the governor of their “unwavering support and solidarity” in ensuring transparency and accountability in the probe, stressing that Tarabans deserve to know the truth about the purported multi-billion-naira investments.
