- Governor Declares Taraba ‘Open For Business’ As State Targets Jobs, Food Security And Industrial Growth
Taraba State just took a serious swing at industrialization, locking in a $268 million development financing package from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) to fund three major projects touching power, agriculture, and manufacturing across the state.
For Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, this wasn’t just another signing ceremony — he framed it as a turning point. “Today, we are not simply signing three agreements with EBID; we are signing hope for millions of people,” he said, describing the deal as a deliberate shift away from managing scarcity and toward actually building something sustainable.
So what’s the money going toward? Three flagship projects: a 50-megawatt solar power plant, an Integrated Rice Production and Processing Programme, and a modern industrial park. Kefas said each one is designed to hit a different pressure point in Taraba’s economy. The solar plant should give industries and businesses the kind of reliable power they’ve long lacked. The rice programme is aimed at boosting agricultural output, expanding local processing, and — critically — putting more money in farmers’ pockets. And the industrial park is meant to pull in manufacturers and investors while creating jobs for the state’s young people.
None of this is happening in isolation, either. Kefas tied the announcement back to a broader development strategy his administration has been building — one that puts education, security, and infrastructure at the center. Since taking office, he pointed out, his government has rolled out free education in public primary and secondary schools, cut tuition by 50 percent in state-owned tertiary institutions, and worked to tighten security across the state to make it more attractive to investors.
His reasoning: none of that groundwork means much without an economy that can actually absorb the people it’s producing. “An educated child deserves a job. A peaceful community deserves investment. A talented young graduate deserves an economy that rewards hard work,” he said.
The governor also had praise for EBID itself, calling the regional lender a dependable partner with a track record of backing transformative infrastructure across West Africa — from transport and energy to agriculture, healthcare, and industry — work he credited with driving regional economic integration.
He didn’t stop there, either, giving a nod to the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arguing that Taraba’s plans line up neatly with the national push on energy security, food production, and industrialization. His broader point: the more the Federal Government and states work in sync, the faster real growth follows.
On accountability, Kefas was direct — pledging that the funds would be managed transparently and responsibly, noting that every dollar borrowed comes with the weight of public trust attached to it. He also gave credit where it was due, singling out the state’s negotiating team — led by the Commissioner for Energy and Economic Development, Engr. Naomi Tanko Agbu — along with transaction advisers Deutsche Partner Holdings (DPH), for getting the deal across the line.
“Taraba is open for business,” Kefas declared, framing the investment as a way to give young people a reason to build their futures at home instead of leaving in search of opportunity elsewhere. He said he expects the projects to turn farmers into genuine agribusiness players, give local industries the power supply they’ve needed for years, and position Taraba as a stronger piece of Nigeria’s overall economic story.
He closed on a reflective note, saying future generations may never know the details of the negotiations behind this deal — but they’ll feel its impact through better infrastructure, more jobs, and a more prosperous state. History, he said, won’t remember this day just because agreements were signed, but because it marked a choice — “courage over comfort, vision over hesitation and investment over excuses” — one he framed as the foundation for a stronger, more resilient Taraba.
